
m 

life' 




C.V.l<7-HAWTm-CHl. 



Memorial Volume. 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



Tri-Cennial Class Meetim 



OF THE 



Class of 1854, Union College, 



HELD AT THE 



College, June 24th, 1884, 

including biographical outlines of the lives of its 

members; the class address delivered and 

class and other poems read on the 

occasion, together with 

EXTKACTS FKOM LETTEES 



RECEIVED FROM ABSENT MEMBERS AND OTHERS. 



• • • 



Hyde Paek, Illinois, 
HYDE PARK PUBLISHING COMPANY, PUBLISHERS, 

1885. 



.Uhvfe- 



The foll(>wing record of the Tri-cennial Reunion of the 
Class of 1854, in Union College, is printed substantially 
as prepared by the secretary, and as authorized by the 
Class. The delay in printing has been due to the difficulty 
of members living in distant parts of the country confer- 
ring together, but chiefly to the greater one of securing 
desired information concerning those not present nor re- 
porting at the meeting. 

Though far from complete, the committee has not deemed 
it best to delay longer for further information. 

A. A. YATES, 

P. R. FUEBECK, 

J. I. BENNETT, ^ Executive Committee. 

C. D. NOTT, 

E. W. RICE, 

June 1, 1885. 









Contents. 



BIOGRAPHICAL OUTLINES. 
Abell, Rodney C. 
Allen, Ormanzo 
Bain, William J. 
Bartlett, Dwight K. 
Baker, Erwin 
Beach, Miles 
Bennett, John I. 
Brandon, Wm. R. - 
Borden, S. L. C. 
Brown, Robert O. 
Brown, Horatio D. 
Brown, Sabin H. - x 
Burtis, John H. 
Burton, Reuben B. 
Burt, James 
Cameron, John J. 
Chapman, George W. 
Chapman, Orlow W. 
Clark, Ethan 
Clark, J. L. 
Craig, Joseph M. 
Combs, John H. - 
Cornwall, Amos R. - 
Cromlish, John 
Eddy, Albert C. 
Flagg, Jas. E. 
Furbeck, Peter R. 
Furbeck, Philip - 
Gorton, Cyrus L- 
Griswold, W. A. - 
Hall, John D. 
Hannah, Septimus S. 
Heacock, Edwin H. 



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6 Contents. 

Henderson, Nathan P. - - Pages, 17 

Ingersoll, Chas. F. - - - " 17 

Kehoo, John L. - - - - " 17 

King, Albert L. - - - " 17 
Klein, Norman - - - - " 17 and 18 

Losee, Harvey S. - - - 18 

Lyman, Henry F. - - - - " 18 

Marvin, Daniel ..." 18 
Miller, Prosper - - - - " . 18 and 19 

Mitchell, Jas. Y. - - - " 19 

Morgan, Hamilton - - - " 19 

Murphy, Wm. D. - - - " 19 

Myers, Chas. W. - - - - " 19 
Nott, Chas. D. " 19 and 20 

Nott, Eliphalet - - - - " 20 

Nott, John V. H. - - - " 20 

Noyes, Geo. H, - - - " 20 

Naman, Wm. H. - - - " 20 

Opie, Theo. H. - - - - " 20 

Packard, Alphonso E. - - " 20 
Pendleton, Isaac - - - - " 20 and 21 

Peterson, Edwin H. - - - " 21 

Pierce, Herman H. - - - " 21 

Phelphs, Frank ... "21 and 22 

Plumb, Wm. H. - ^ - - " 22 

Pratt, Sept. P. - - - " 22 
Prindle, Jos. A. ' - - - - " 22 and 23 

Reynolds, Clinton G. - - - " 23 

Hice, Edwin W. - - - - " 23 

Rice, John V. - 23 

Richardson, Samuel J. - - - " 24 

Simons, Luther M. - - - " 24 

Snyder, Theo. - - . ■ - - " 24 

Southwide, And. J. - 24 

Stone, Horace - " 24 

Street, Anthony W. - - - " 25 

VanNaine, John B. ..." 25 

Valentine, Philo G. - ' - " 25 

Waterbury, Daniel - - ■ - " 26 

Watkins, Ira S. - - - " 26 

Watson, Howard - - . • " 26 

Westfall, Daniel M. . - - - t " 26 
Williams, Ben j. H. - - - " 26 and 27 

Wilson, Alex. - - - - " 27 

Wood, Nathan H. - - ' - - " 27 

Woodworth, Malcolm W. - - " 27 



Contents. 



Yates, Austin A. - - - Pages, 

York, Sidney P. - - - " 

RECORD OF CLASS MEETING, - - " 

Class Poem, by E. W. Rice, 

"Tricennial Day, 1854-1884" - " 

Class Address by John I. Bennett, 

"The Lessons and Duties of the Hour." " 
Dr. Foster's Remarks and 

Class Resolution, - 

THE BANQUET. - - - Pages, 

E. W. Rice's Poem, 

"Boys of '54." ..." 

Frank Phelps' Commencement, 

Poem, "The Soul's Seasons." - " 

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS. - Pages, 

Baker, Erwin - 

Bartlett, Dwight K. - - - " 

Dr. Millard, - - - 

Beach, Miles - - - - " 

Bredin, S. L. C. 

Chapman, Geo. W. (Obituary Notice) - " 
Chapman, Orlow W. - 

Cornwell, A. R. - - - - " 

Craig, Jos. M. - - - - " 

Furbeck, P. - - - " 

Griswold, W. N. - - . - " 

Heacock, E. H. - - - - " 

Kehoo, J. L. 

Sarah F. Kehoo. - - - " 

Klein, Norman ... 

Losee, Harvey 

Bennett & Sc'iofield - - " 

Lyman, Henry F., 

Woodworth - - - " 

Mitchell, Jas. Y. - - - " 

Nott, J. V. H. - - - - " 

Pendleton, Isaac, 

A. W. Argo - 
Prindle, Jos. A. - - - - " 

Rice, John V. ... 

Street, A. W. - - - - " 

Williams, Benj. A.- 
York, S. P. - - - - " 
SUBSEQUENT RECORD. - - " 



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Biographical Outlines. 



ABELL, RODNEY C, West Haven, Vt. 

Born October 17, 1831, at Benson, Yt. ; son of Solomon 
P. and Nancy (Allen) Abell ; prepared for college at Troy 
Conference Academy, Poultney, Yt. ; entered Union Col- 
lege, September, 1852, joining the Junior class ; studied 
law in the office of William Barnes, Albany, N. Y., and 
was admitted to the bar in March, 1856 ; was elected Phi 
Beta Kappa on graduation ; has since resided in West 
Haven, Yt. ; engaged in the practice of his profession, and 
in the successful prosecution of other pursuits ; never 
married. 

ALLEN, ORMANZO, Austin, Minn. 

Born in Alfred, K Y., March 17, 1830 ; prepared for 
college at Alfred University; entered college 1853; taught 
at Milton, Wis., 1854, 1856 ; studied law 1856 ; lawyer 
and probate judge, 1856-1884 ;• married in 1854 ; resides 
at Austin, Minn. 

BAIN, WILLIAMJ. Deceased. * 

Born in Washington county, K. Y., where lie pre- 
pared for college ; graduated 1854 ; was elected Phi Beta 
Kappa ; received the degree of A. M. ; S. S. Missionary 
in Canada, 1854; teacher in Mississippi; died there in 

1857. 

2 



10 Biographical Outlines. 

BARTLETT, DWIGHT KELLOGG. Deceased. * 

Born in Utica, N*. Y., March 30, 1832; prepared for col- 
lege at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. ; entered college in 1851; had 
the Greek salutatory ; elected Phi Beta Kappa ; teacher ; 
tutor Union College, 1854-57; studied theology at Prince- 
ton Seminary, N". J., 1857-59; married, 1869; pastor 
Amenia, N. Y., two years; Stamford, two years; Congre- 
gational Church, Rochester, N. Y., nine years; Second 
Reformed Church, Albany, N. Y. ; received the degree of 
D. D., from Union College in 1875; died Jan. 11, 1881. 

BAKER, ERWIN, Oskaloosa, Iowa. 

Born Dec. 20, 1832; prepared for college at Oxford, 
]ST. Y. ; entered fall term 1852; graduated 1854; married 
May 4, 1859; engaged in teaching and business; resides 
at Oskaloosa, Iowa; received the degree of A. M., after 
graduation. 

BEACH, MILES, New York City. 

Born at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., Oct. 13, 1833; pre- 
pared for college at Troy, N. Y. ; entered college, 1851; 
studied law; married Oct. 31, 1855; a lawyer in Troy and 
in New York City; is now Judge of N. Y. Court of Com- 
mon Pleas. Address is 21 West Fifty-third street, New 
York City. 

BENNETT, JOHN IRA, Chicago, Illinois. 

Born in Otsego county, N. Y., Nov. 27, 1831; prepared 
for college at Charlotte Academy; entered Union College 
first term, sophomore, in 1851; graduated 1854; Latin 
Salutatory; elected Phi Beta Kappa; Principal of Liberty 
Academy, Springfield, Tenn., to 1857; married in 1855; 
studied law; lawyer at Galva, Ills., to 1872; member of 
School Board at Galva, ten years; proprietor Galva Union; 
owner of coal mines; Presidential elector republican 
ticket, in 1864; removed to Chieago in 1872, and practiced 



Biographical Outlines. 11 

law there to 1879; was appointed Master in Chancery for 
IT. S. Circuit and District Courts, Northern District of 
Illinois, in 1879, and now holds that position; has been 
six years member of Board of Education in Hyde Park, 
and twice President of the Board of Trustees of Hyde 
Park, with the powers of mayor — 1878 and 1879; author 
of a Law Treatise on the Law of Lis Pendens, now in 
course of publication; received the degree of A. M. ; re- 
sides at Chicago, Ills. 

BRANDON, WILLIAM RADCLIFF, last residence 
Brandon, Miss. 

Was from Brandon, Miss. It is not known whether 
he is living or dead. 

BREDIN, STEPHEN LOWRY COLLINS, Franklin, Pa. 

Born at Butler, Pa.; prepared for college at Butler 
Academy; entered college in 1851; studied medicine at 
University of Pa.; graduated 1851; married Sept. 9, 
1859; practiced medicine at Rochester, Minn., 1856-58; 
Butler, Pa,, 1858-1883; at Franklin, Pa., 1884; resides at 
Franklin, Pa. 

BROWN, ROBERT O. Deceased. * 

Born near Montgomery, N. Y. ; graduated 1851; teach- 
er in Illinois 1854-60; in army 1861-64; wounded at 
battle of Franklin, and died August 30, 1864. 

BROWN, HORATIO D., Albert Lea, Minn. 

Born in Fabius, N. Y., April 15, 1833; prepared for 
college at Cazenovia Seminary, N. Y. ; entered Junior 
class (scientific and engineering) fall of 1852; out one 
year from poor health; joined class of '55; married Dec. 
19, 1851; was civil engineer; three and one-half years in 
the army; now banker at Albert Lea, Minn. 

BROWN, SABIN H. Deceased. * 

Born in Wellsborough, X. Y., 1833; prepared for col- 



12 Biographical Outlines. 

lege at the Elmira Academy; entered Freshman class at 
Williams College, and Junior class at Union College, 
and died before completing his college course. 

BURTIS, JOHN HENRY, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Born at Hoosick Falls, N. Y., Sept. 5, 1832; prepared 
for college at Cambridge Academy, N. Y. ; was elected 
Phi Beta Kappa; studied law, then theology at Princeton 
Seminary, N. J. ; gave up professional life, from an affec- 
tion of the eyes; married Oct. 4, 1861; was associate sec- 
retary of missions of the American S. S. Union, 1858-64; 
foundry and iron, 1864-1874; president Brooklyn Ele- 
vated Railway, 1874; New York Legislature, 1875; now 
broker in New York City; resides 121 Quincy street, 
Brooklyn, N. Y. 

BURTON, RUBEN B., New York City. 

Born in Chester, Yt., June 15, 1827; prepared for col- 
lege at Chester Academy and Burton Seminary, Manches- 
ter, Yt. ; entered Freshman class Williams College, and 
Union College as Junior ; received A. M. after graduation ; 
graduated at Albany Medical College, 1855; teacher at 
Tarrytown, N. Y. ; married; practiced medicine Chester, 
Yt., 1858; New York City, 1860-84; address is 212 East 
Forth-eighth street, New York City. 

BURT, JAMES, New York City. 

Born at Albany, N. Y., Aug. 15,1836; prepared for 
college at Kinderhook Academy; entered Union College 
first term Junior year, 1852; married Nov. 10, 1865; 
three children; during rebellion connected with pay de- 
partment of union army ; was Assistant Commissary Gen- 
eral of State of New York, with rank of Colonel ; five 
years assistant appraiser of port of New York; entered 
upon mercantile business after graduation; iron manufac- 
ture; resigned custom house duty to engage in custom 
and revenue business, and is engaged in that business 



Biographical Outlines. 13 

now; lias resided at Logansport, Ind. ; Denver, Col.; West 
Stockbridge, Mass.; Washington, I). . C; JN r ew Orleans,. 
La. ; and now resides in New York City. 

CAMERON, JOHN JAMES. Deceased. * 

Born in Broadalbin, X. Y., in 1831; prepared for col- 
lege at Kingsboro Academy, ~N. Y.; entered Union Col- 
lege fall term 1851; graduated 1854; was elected Phi 
Beta Kappa and received the degree of A. M. ; studied 
theology at Princeton Seminary, N". J., 1855-57; pastor 
"New Scotland, N. Y., 1857; teacher Saratoga; chaplain 
in army; died in hospital at Yorktown, Va., May 14, 
1862. 

CHAPMAN, GEORGE W. Deceased. * 

Born Aug. 19, 1832; prepared for college at Roches- 
ter University; entered Union College in 1853; studied 
law; never married; always lived in Balston Spa, !N". Y.; 
was a distinguished member of the legal profession; 
was a member of the general assembly of N. Y., in 1862; 
in 1867 was appointed Land Commissioner to fill a 
vacancy, and elected to that office in 1870; compiled and 
published a manual of the land laws of the state; died of 
apoplexy April 20, 1882. 

CHAPMAN, ORLOW W., Binghamton, N. Y. 

Born in Ellington, Ct., Jan. 7, 1832; prepared for 
college at Ellington and Hanson Academies; entered fall 
term 1851; teacher at Fergusonville Academy; studied 
law; married June 17, 1862; practiced law at Delhi, N. 
Y., and Binghainpton, X. Y. ; commissioner of state draft 
in Broome, etc., counties; District Attorney of county; 
State senator 1868-1871; member of Constitutional Con- 
vention, 1873; State Superintendent of Insurance, 1872- 
1876; still in the law practice, and resides at Binghamp- 
ton, N. Y. 



14 Biographical Outlines. 

CLARK, ETHAN. Deceased. * 

Was born and prepared for college at Ovid, Seneca 
county, !N*. Y. ; was studying for Baptist ministry; was 
drowned in the Mohawk, while in college, in June, 1854. 

CLARK, J. L. Deceased. * 

Born at Broadalbin, N. Y., in 1827; graduated with 
the class of 1854 at Union College, being elected to the 
Phi Beta Kappa society; graduated at Princeton Theolog- 
ical Seminary in 1857; taught at Saratoga Springs and 
was pastor of a church at ISTew Scotland; at the break- 
ing out of the war in 1861 he entered the Union army, 
and died at Yorktown, Va., May 14, 1862. 

CRAIG, JOSEPH MARTIN. 

Born in Peapach, Somerset county, N. J., Sept. 13, 1831; 
prepared for college at various schools; entered Union 
second term 1852; teacher New Orleans, La.; married 
January 13, 1869; studied medicine and graduated 1861; 
assistant surgeon and surgeon in the Confederate army, 
1861-1865; physician Fairview Concordia Parish, La., 
1866-1883; Amite, La., 1883-1884, where he now re- 
sides. 

COMBS, JOHN H. 

Whereabouts or whether living unknown. 

CORNWALL, AMOS RUSSEL, Ordway, Dakota. 

Born at Hornellsville, !N". Y., 1831; prepared for college 
at Alfred Academy, JS\ Y. ; entered Sophomore class 1853; 
passed Junior year on examination, and graduated 1854; 
married December 10, 1854; July 16, 1861; June 29, 
1865; teacher De Euyter, !N". Y., two years; Albion, Wis., 
twenty-five years; Ordway, Dakota, one year; now agent 
Central M. E. University at Ordway, Dakota. 

CROMLISH, JOHN, Residence unknown. 

Officiated at Indiana, Pa., 1858; Rector same place 



Biographical Outlines. 15 

1858-1860; Eector at Columbia, Pa.; from 1861 to 1866; 

connected with the church of the Epiphany, N. Y. City, 

as assistant minister from 1867 to 1869; present residence, 

unknown. 

EDDY, ALBERT C. Deceased. * 

Prepared for College in Washington county, X. Y.; 
studied law at Cambridge, N. Y. ; went to St. Paul, Minn. ; 
was practicing law there in summer of 1856; editor of 
Cambridge Valley News ; published Hoosiek Falls Gazette 
in 1863; was afterwards in the employ of the Wood's 
Mowing Machine Works, Hoosac Falls, N. Y., until he 
died Aug. 2, 1878. 

FLAGG, JAMES E. 

Nothing known of him. 

FURBECK, PETER R. 

Born at Guilderland, N. Y., Aug. 9, 1835; prepared 
for college at New Brunswick, N. J. ; entered third term 
Freshman, 1851; elected Phi Beta Kappa; received 
degree A. M. ; professor of languagues and higher mathe- 
matics at Troy Academy, N. Y. ; Schoharie Academy, 
JST. Y. ; Lansingburg Academy, N. Y. ; and professor of 
languages of Troy High School, N. Y.; studied medi- 
cine at Albany Medical College and at Long Island Col- 
lege Hospital, graduating at the latter institution June 20, 
1865; spent a few months*in hospital practice in Albany 
City Hospital and Ira Harris Military Hospital (Albany) ; 
located at Gloversville, N. Y., Nov. 3, 1865; married 
June 20, 1867; was IT. S. Medical Examiner for Pen- 
sions from 1866 to 1883; has been a member of the 
Board of Education of the Gloversville Union Free School 
since its organization in 1866; is a permanent member 
of the N. Y. State Medical Society, and has ever taken an 
active interest in all matters pertaining to his profession 
and to the educational interests of the community in which 
he resides. 



16 Biographical Outlines. 

FURBECK, PHILLIP, Little Falls, N. J. 

Born at Guilderland, N. Y., Dec. 29, 1832; prepared for 
college at New Brunswick, 1ST. J.; entered third term 
Freshman 1851; graduated 1854; studied theology at 
New Brunswick, N. J.; married June 15, 1859; pastor 
Reformed Church, Fonda, K Y., 1859-1862; Waterloo, 
1862-1867; Buskirk's Bridge, 1867-1875; Farmer's Vil- 
lage, 1875-1882; Little Falls, K J., 1882-1884, where he 
now resides; has been a frequent contributor to the re- 
ligious press; has received the degree of A. M. 

GARTON, CYRUS L. Deceased. * 

Particulars unknown. 

GRISWOLD, WOLCOT NOBLE, San Francisco, Cal. 

Born in Angelica, Alleghany county, N". Y., Aug. 15, 
1833; prepared for college at Quincy, 111.; entered Junior 
year 1852; studied medicine; married Jan. 1, 1865; 
Homeopathic physician, Quincy, 111., to 1861; Portland, 
Ore., 1863-1865; Pontiac, Mich., 1866-1867; San Fran- 
cisco, Cal., 1868-1884; now resides in San Francisco; 
Secretary California State Medical Society, of Homeopathic 
Practice; Secretary State Board Medical Examiners; can- 
didate for Mayor January, 1879. 

HALL, JOHN D., New York. 

Born Sept. 15, 1828; prepared for college at Fairfield 
Academy, Herkimer county, N". Y. ; entered the Junior 
class "at Union College in 1853; since graduation has paid 
attention to building, architecture, surveying and inven- 
tion; has succeeded eminently, in architecture especially; 
married in 1864; resides at 775 Dean St., Brooklyn, N". Y. ; 

HANNAH, SEPTIMUS S. Deceased. * 

Died at his home near Indianapolis, Ind., soon after 
graduation. 

HEAGOCK, EDWIN HUMPHREY, New Whatcom, 
Washington Ter. 

Born at Kingsboro, X. Y., 1831; prepared for college at 



Biographical Outlines. 17 

Kingsboro Academy ; entered Sophomore class ; left college 
and went to California in 1852; studied law, Sacramento, 
Cal. ; married Oct. 2, 1853; Clerk of Police Court, 1853-56; 
lawyer, 1853-60; state senator, 1860-66; lawyer Santa' 
Cruz, Cal., 1863-71; county judge 1871-75; lawyer, Lom- 
poe, Cal., 1875; judge 1880-81; general agent railroad, 
NewWatcom, "Washington Ter., 1883-84; resides at New 
Whatcom, "Washington Ter. 

HENDERSON, NATHANIAL P. 

Nothing known of Henderson after graduation. 

INGERSOLL, CHARLES F. * 

Died soon after graduation. 

KEHOO, JOHN LESLIE. Deceased. * 

Born near Amsterdam, E". Y., May 5, 1828 ; prepared 
for college at Amsterdam and Kinder kook; entered col- 
lege 1851; elected Phi Beta Kappa; studied theology at 
Princeton Seminary, N. J.; married May 12, 1858; pas- 
tor, Manalopan, K J., 1857-74; Worcester, KY., 1875-76; 
died at Albany, N". Y., November, 1876. 

KING, ALBERT LITTLEBURY, Chicago, Illinois. 

Was born near Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 19, 1834; prepared 
for college at Washington Institute, Tenn. : entered Union 
College third term, Sophomore, in 1852; was President of 
Washington Institute ; graduated at Lebanon Law School, 
Tenn., in 1857; engaged in oil speculations in Pensyl- 
vania, and in real estate and smelting in Omaha, Neb.; 
removed to Chicago, 111., in 1871: engaged in handling 
mining intrests and western cattle; married in 1857; now 
resides in Chicago. 

KLEIN, NORMAN, San Jose, Cal. 

Left college in 1852 and went to California: was admit- 
ted to the bar, Jnly, 1855; practiced at Volcano, Amado 
Co.; studied dentistry and commenced practice at Santa 



18 JSiographical Outlines. 

Clara, in 1859; married in 1860; removed to San Jose in 
1862, and has practiced dentistry there since, and there 
resides. 

LOSEE, HARVEY S. Deceased. * 

Born in Clinton, Duchess Co., K Y:, May 29,1830; 
prepared at Granville and Schuylerville Schools; entered 
college first term, Sophomore, 1851; left college, taught 
at Alexandria, La.; graduated 1854; elected Phi Beta Kap- 
pa; received A. M., 1857; studied law; admitted to the 
bar of Louisiana 1856; married Sept. 29, 1857; Lieut, in 
Confederate army 1862; Commissary Dept., 1863-65; law- 
yer, Alexandria, La., 1865-72; died at Alexandria, La., Oct. 
15, 1872; was buried in Pineville Cemetery. 

LYMAN, HENRY F. Deceased. * 

Born in Cortland Tillage, Cortland Co., 1ST. Y., in 1830; 
prepared for college at Cortland Academy; entered Junior 
class at Union College, from Hamilton College, in 1853; 
left college at end of Junior year and never graduated; 
admitted to the bar, and practiced at Cortland Tillage, 
where he died, probably in 1854. 

MARVIN, DANIEL, Central Square, N. Y. 

Born in Troy, ~N. Y., Jan. 29, 1830 ; prepared for college at 
Amenia Seminary, in Duchess Co., N. Y.; entered Union 
College first term Sophomore, 1852; studied theology, 
then law; married June 3, 1858; practiced law ten years; 
since then in Methodist ministry; located, in 1872, at 
Wilkesbarre, Pa.; in 1873, at Martinsburg, 1ST. Y.; in 
1873-4, at Sharon Springs, 1ST. Y.; in 1875-6, at La Far- 
queville, 1ST. Y.; in 1877, at Scriba, K Y.; in 1878-9, at 
Cleveland, K Y.; in 1881-3, at Hannibal, 1ST. Y.; and in 
1884, at Central Square, Oswego Co., N. Y., where he 
now resides ; was awarded the degree of A. M. 

MILLER, PROSPER, Friendship, N. Y. 

Born in Andover, N. Y., April 19, 1829; prepared for 



Biographical Outlines. 19 

college at Alfred Academy, JS. Y.; entered college in April, 
1853; elected Phi Beta Kappa; received the degree of A. 
M. ; married Dec. 18, 1854; teacher; principal Alfred Acad- 
emy, ~N. Y., 1854-68; professor of natural sciences, Alfred 
University, ]ST. Y., 1868-72; principal Alfred Academy 
1872-83; farming and surveying, 1883-1884; resides in 
Friendship, N. Y. 

MITCHELL, JAMES YOUNG, Lancaster, Pa. 

Born in Philadelphia, Jan. 22, 1832; prepared for col- 
lege at Newark Academy; entered Freshman class Delaware 
College 1850, and Union College in 1852; studied theology 
at Princeton Seminary, N. J., 1854-57; married Oct. 13, 
1858; pastor Philipsburg, K". J., 1857-62; Philadelphia, 
1862-76; Lancaster, Pa., 1876-84; received degree of 
D. D., from Union College, 1880; now resides at Lan- 
caster, Pa. 

MORGAN, HAMILTON. Deceased. * 

Particulars unknown. 

MURPHY, WILLIAM D. 

Born in Leitersburg, Md., 1832; prepared for college 
in Springfield, Ohio; entered Wittenburg College, and 
Union (junior class); studied law in Albany, !N". Y. ; mem- 
ber of N". Y. legislature 1870-71; issued five volumes 
sketches of State officers, 1858-62; has received the de- 
gree of A. M. ; resides in Albany, N. Y. 

MYERS, CHARLES W. Deceased. * 

Born in Schenectady, N. Y., where his father was 
mayor; after leaving college he moved to Galesburg, 111.; 
with a brother, where he died about 1863. 

NOTT, CHARLES DE KAY, Washington, N. J. 

Born near Albany, 1ST. Y., Sept. 12, 1833; prepared for 
college at Albany Academy; entered college in 1852; stud- 
ied theology in Union Theological Seminary, N. Y., and in 



20 Biographical Outlines. 

New Brunswick, N. J.; married; pastor Mohawk, N. Y.,, 
1859; Urbana, 111., 1866; Kansas City, Mo., 1869; St. 
Louis, Mo., 1871; Davenport, Iowa, 1873; Washington, 
N. J., 1881-84; received- degree of D. D., from Union 
College, 1876. 

NOTT, ELIPHALET, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Born in Schenectady, X. Y., April 1, 1833; prepared 
for college in Schenectady Lyceum; entered college first 
term Freshman, 1851; studied medicine College of Phy- 
sicians and Surgeons, N. Y., 1872-84; lecturer Brook- 
lyn Training School for Nurses, 1879-84; resides 411 
Carleton Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

NOTT, JOHN VERNON HENRY, Kingston, N. Y. 

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, January, 1832 ; prepared Nor- 
manville; entered college 1851; unmarried; writer on ag- 
ricultural topics and farmer; now resides at Killadoor, 
near Kingston, 1ST. Y. 

NOYES, GEORGE H. 

Unable to learn whether living or dead. 

NUMAN, WILLIAM H. Deceased. * 

Studied law at Troy, N. Y. ; also followed surveying for 
a time; practiced law until 1884, when he died at Lan- 
singburg, N. Y. 

OPIE, THEO. H. Deceased. * 

Died soon after graduation, at Fishkill, ~N. Y. 

PACKARD, ALPHONSO E. Deceased. * 

Died in college in his Sophomore year. 

PENDLETON, ISAAC, Sioux City, Iowa. 

Born at Norwhich, Chenango county, N. Y., April 3, 
1833; prepared for college at Oxford Academy, Oxford, 
N. Y.; entered second term Sophomore, in 1851; was elect- 
ed Phi Beta Kappa; married Feb. 1,1872; has three child- 
ren all living; studied law; after graduation read at Tsor- 



Biographical Outlines. 21 

wich, Oxford, N. Y, 1854-5; at Syracuse, K Y. 1856-7 
at Cleveland, Oliio, 1857-8; settled at Sioux City, Iowa, 
in 1858, and lias continued to reside there since, 
where he is and for a long time has been 
the leading criminal lawyer; was a member of 
the Iowa House of Representatives 1861-2; was 
chairman of the military committee and member of several 
other important committees; was most efficient in aiding 
Iowa in raising troops and supporting them in the field; 
was Judge of the District Court for the Fourth District of 
Iowa, 1863 to 1866; was a delegate to Philadelphia Repub- 
lican convention, which nominated Gen. Grant, and* chair- 
man of the committee on credentials; was republican elec- 
tor in Iowa in that campaign; has been a candidate for 
Congress several times; maintains a high standing at the 
Iowa bar as a criminal lawyer, and resides at Sioux City, 
Iowa. 

PETERSON, EDWIN H. 

Efforts to find present residence unavailing. At one 
time lived in McHenry county, Illinois. 

PIERCE, HEMAN H. Deceased. * 

Prepared at Fergusonville Academy; entered first term 
Sophomore, in 1851; left college in 1852 and went to sea; 
was never heard of but once afterwards, and is supposed 
to have been lost at sea. 

PHELPHS, FRANK. Deceased. * 

Was born at Middlebury, Vt., May 2d, 1884; after 
spending a year at Middlebury College, Vermont, and a 
year at the University of Vermont, entered first term 
Junior at Union, and was graduated in 1854; lie was a 
a member of the Philomathean society and of the Chi Psi; 
after graduation he went to Burlington, Iowa, and engag- 
ed in editorial work on the Burlington Hawkeye, continu- 



22 Biographical Outlines 

ing in that occupation during the remainder of his life, 
except one year when he was a clerk at Fort Union, New 
Mexico; one year when he taught school in Louisiana, and 
during most of the war; when he was chief clerk to Col. 
Thos. B. Hunt, Quartermaster U. S. A.,jserving at Charles- 
ton, S. C, Cincinnati and points in the Southern states; 
in 1873 he established the Burlington Daily at Burling- 
ton, Iowa, and conducted it as editor and proprietor for 
two years; he was afterwards editor of Every Sunday 
Morning, at Burlington, Iowa, until it was discontinued. 
After the war, he edited the Toledo (Ohio) Times, and for 
a short- time was engaged on a paper in Chicago; he 
never married; his newspaper articles and fugitive poems 
made him a considerable literary reputation in his state; 
he was a Democrat and a member of the Episcopal 
Church. He died suddenly of hemorrage of the stomach, 
December 3d, 1879, in his 46th year, at Burlington, Iowa. 

PLUMB, WILLIAM H. 

Yery little known of him since graduation; present 
residence unknown, or whether living or dead. 

PRATT, SETH P. Residence unknown. 

Born at or near Lockport, N. Y., in 1830; prepared for 
college at Lockport; entered Union College, from Hamil- 
ton College, third term Junior; taught in Brooklyn on 
leaving college; studied theology; further particulars of 
him unknown. 

PRINDLE, JOSEPH A. Denmark, N. Y. 

Born at Spofford, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Dec. 21, 1832; 
prepared for college at Homer Academy, Homer, N". Y.; 
entered Union College from Hamilton College, the third 
term, Junior; studied law, then theology and science. 
Principal of Oswego Academy 1857 to 1869; 1869 and 
1870; since professor of natural sciences and ancient 



Biographical Outlines. 23 

language in State Normal and Training school, Oswego; 
principal of academy at Lowille, and more recently has 
taught a private school; at the same time pastor of the 
Lowille and Denmark Baptist Church; married in 185 7; 
has received the deores of A. M.; now resides at Den- 
mark, N". Y. 

REYNOLDS, CLINTON G. 

Present residence unknown, nor is it known whether 
living or dead. 

RICE, EDWIN WILBER. Philadelphia, Pa. 

Born near Kingsboro, N. Y., July 24, 1831; prepared 
for college at Kingsboro Academy and Academy of Little 
Falls, K Y.; in college 1851-54; elected Phi 
Beta Kappa; studied law with Hon. Daniel 
Cady, Johnston, IS". Y., 1854-55; theologv at 
Union Theological Seminary, New York City, 
1855-57; teacher 1858; ordained at LaCrosse, Wis., 1860; 
married at Red Wing, Minn., 1860; wife died 1864; 
married 1868; agent Am. S. S. Union, St. Louis, Mo., 
1861-68, and LaCrosse, Wis., 1861-64; Supt. of Mis- 
sions Am. S. S. Union, Milwaukee, Wis., 1871-78; Assis- 
tant Secretary and editor Am. S. S. Union, Philadelphia, 
1871-78; editor of Am. S. S. Union, 1878; has written 
about twenty-five volumes, including a pictorial commen- 
tary on St. Mark; and joint editor of a dictionary of the 
Bible; now resides in Philadelphia; received degree of 
D. D., 1884. 

RICE, JOHN V. Chester, Pa. 

Born in Wilmington, Del.; prepared for college by 
tutors; entered college 1851: elected Phi Beta Kappa; 
received the degree of A. M. ; studied medicine; moved to 
the West (Iowa); iron founder, Wilmington, Del., 1857- 
74; studied law; lawyer, Chester, Pa., 1875-84, where he 
now resides. 



21 Biographical Outlines. 

RICHARDSON, SAMUEL J. Mexico, N. Y. 

Came from near Oswego, !N\ Y. ; was elected Phi Beta 
Kappa; went to Boonville, Iowa, after graduation; 
there became involved in real estate speculation, and in 
1856 was taken insane; was at the State lunatic asylum 
at Utica, N. Y., until 1860, when he was removed to the 
Oswego county asylum, where he is at the present time; 
There is no hope of his ever recovering his mind. He is 
physically strong, weighing 180 pounds; is not excited, 
but melancholy; is liable to become a public charge, his 
money being nearly exhausted. 

SIMON, LUTHER M. 

When last heard from, an architect in Washington, D. 
C.j but present residence could not be traced. 

SNYDER, THEODORE, Kinderhook, N. Y. 

Born in Kinderhook, ^N". Y., March 26, 1836; prepared 
for college at Kinderhook Academy, ]S T . Y. ; entered col- 
lege fall of 1852 (scientific course); after leaving college 
studied law at Albany Law School, and with Cochran cv. 
Reynolds, Albany, 1ST. Y., 1851-58; married June 13, 
1860; lawyer, Hudson, K Y., 1858-73; City Recorder, 
Hudson, 1868-71; farmer, Kinderhook, N". Y., 1873-75; 
resides at Kinderhook, 'N. Y. 

SOUTHWICK, AND. J. Deceased. * 

Prepared for college at Greenwood Academy, Washing- 
ton county, N. Y. ; died after graduation, in Washington 
county, N. Y.; further particulars not known. 

STONE, HORACE. Died at West Troy. * 

Was preparing for the Methodist ministry; was in ill- 
health when he entered college, and died of consumption 
in the Sophomore year. 



Biographical Outlines. 25 

STREET, ATHONY WADDY, Council Bluffs, Iowa. 

Born Nov. 24, 1838, at Prairie du Chien, Mich. Ter.; 
was of Kentucky parentage; prepared for college at 
Shelby College, Kentucky; entered Union College first 
term Sophomore, 1851; received Phi Beta Kappa; re- 
mained at Union after graduation and completed the civil 
engineering course under Prof. Gillespie; in 1855-56 
was at Oskaloosa, Iowa, and engaged in engineering. In 
1856-7 was engaged in real estate business at Omaha, 'Neb. ; 
engaged in government survey in 1857-58; subsequently, 
in 1858, engaged with Russell, Major & Weddell, con- 
tractors in transportation business, and continued with 
them until 1860-61 — when they failed; and then acted for 
their estate until 1864. In 1867 was appointed postmaster 
of Salt Lake City, where remained until December, 1869;; 
in 1869 engaged in the banking business in Council Bluffs, 
Iowa, and has continued in that business ever since; in 
June, 1882, was elected cashier of the Citizens Bank of 
Council Bluffs, which position he now holds; married in 
1856; resides at Council Bluffs, Iowa. 

VAN NAME, JOHN BAKER, Binghamton, N. Y. 

Born at Bingham ton, Broome county, N. Y., Jan. 11,, 
1833; prepared for college at Binghamton Academy; 
entered Union College, fall term 1852; married Oct. 29^ 
1856; has engaged in the lumber business at Tioga, Pa.,, 
from 1870 to 1875; and since then at Binghamton, N. ■ Y.,, 
where he now resides. 

VALENTINE, PHILO G. Deceased. * 

Born in Berkshire, N. Y., May 5, 1832; prepared for 
college at Cazenovia Seminary, N. Y. ; entered Union 
College fall of 1852; taught school at Henderson, Ky.; 
studied medicine; surgeon inConfedarate army, 1861-65 :, 
married in 1861; wife died in 1873; married again 1879; 
physician Henderson, Ky., 1865-72; St. Louis, Mo., 1872- 



26 Biographical Outlines. 

84; professor in medical college at St. Louis, Mo., and 
editor of medical journal; died Dec. 22, 1884. 

WATERBURY, DANIEL, Margaretsville, N. Y. 

Born in Franklin, Deleware Co., 1ST. Y. ; prepared for 
college at State Normal School and Ferguson ville Academy; 
entered Senior class, 1854; elected Phi Beta Kappa; 
studied law; practiced in New York City to 1858; Mar- 
garetsville, N. Y., to 1869; in N. Y. Legislature two years; 
Deputy Collector of Internal Ke venue; Judge County 
Oourt, Delaware Co., N. Y.; principal Albany Boys' 
Academy, 1868-69; principal of Peabody Institute, St. 
Augustine, Fla., seven years; never married; farmer 
1877-84; resides at Margaretsville, JST. Y. 

WATKINS, IRA S. Deceased. * 

Was drowned in the Mohawk river durino- college 
course. 

WATSON, HOWARD. Deceased. * 

Engaged in banking, at Albany, ~N. Y., and died in 1858. 

WESTFALL, DANIEL M., Cambridge, N. Y. 

Born near Deckertown, 1ST. J., Dec. 11, 1830; prepared 
for college at Deckertown Academy; entered college third 
term Sophomore, 1852; elected Phi Beta Kappa; teacher 
at Cambridge, ~N.Y. ; studied law with Judge Howe to 1855 ; 
married Feb. 8, 1860; a practicing lawyer at Camb- 
ridge, N. Y., from 1856 to 1884; banker and member of 
the Legislature of New York, 1884; now resides at Camb- 
ridge, 1ST. Y. 

WILLIAMS, BENJ. HARRIS, Buffalo, N. Y. 

Born in Preston, Ky., Sept. 22, 1830; prepared for 
college at Carey ville Academy, 1ST. Y., and Avon Seminary, 
X. Y. ; entered Union College and graduated with class 
of 1854: studied law with Hon. Solomon Gr. Havens, 



Biographical Outlines. 27 

Buffalo, 1ST. Y. ; a practicing lawyer in that city from 1857 ; 
married Jan. 31, 1872; City and District Attorney, Buf- 
falo, 1867-74; State Senator 1879-81; still in legal prac- 
tice, and resides at Buffalo, ~N. Y. 

WILSON, ALEXANDER, Mineral Point, Wis. 

Born in Westfield, 1ST. Y., August, 1833; prepared for 
college at the Westfield Academy; entered the Junior 
class at Union College in 1852; taught school near Elgin, 
111.; in 1855 assisted in surveying government land in 
Iowa; read law and was admitted to the bar in 1855; prin- 
cipal of Mineral Point schools for four or five years there- 
after, when he resumed the practice of the law at that 
place, where he is now in full practice ; school superintend- 
ent; District Attorney; County Judge; Attorney General 
of the State of Wisconsin from 1878 to 1882; banker, and 
resides at Mineral Point, Wis. 

WOOD, NATHAN H., Leavenworth, Kans. 

Born in Whitehall, K. Y., Nov. 21, 1829; prepared for 
college at Troy Conference Academy; entered college 1852; 
studied law; married July 16, 1857; practiced law at 
Janesville, Wis., 1854-59; lawyer and broker at Leaven- 
worth, Kans., 1857-84, where he now resides. 

WOODWORTH, MALCOLM W., Burlington, W. Va. 

Born in Xorth White Creek, 1ST. Y., Jan. 31, 1832; 
prepared for college at Cortlandville Academy, N". Y. ; en- 
tered college 1850; dropped out one year from failing 
health; reentered Senior class 1854; elected Phi Beta 
Kappa; studied theology at Princeton Theological Semi- 
nary, IS". J.; married May 5, 1864; September 22, 1881; 
pastor at New Creek Station (now Keyser, W. Ya.) 1857- 
61; at Louisa county, Ya., 1861-65; at Burlington, W. 
Ya., from 1865 to 1884, where he now resides. 

YATES, AUSTIN A., Schenectady, N. Y. 

Born in Union College, March 24, 1836; prepared for 



28 Biographical Outlines. 

college at Schenectady, N. Y., and Warren, Mass. ; entered 
first term Freshman, 1849; left college 1850; returned as 
a Junior, graduating with class of 1854; elected Phi Beta 
Kappa; studied law; married Dec. 18, 1865; lawyer and 
editor Schenectady, ~N. Y.; Captain and Major in army; 
and Assistant Judge Advocate to Gen. Holt to 1866; 
District Attorney 1868-73; County Judge 1873; attorney 
for Treasury Departmsnt 1880-83; in full practice of his 
profession and resides at Schenectady, N. Y. 

YORK, SIDNEY PALMER, Vineland, N. J. 

Born in Brookfield, !N". Y., May 3, 1829; prepared for 
college at Cazenovia, N. Y., and East Greenwich, R. I.; 
entered Union College 1853; married July, 1844; princi- 
pal of female seminary, the Valley Female Institute, sit- 
uated at "Winchester, Ya., from 1854 to 1862; presence of 
Confederate and Union armies in Shenandoah Valley from 
that time on, broke up his seminary and compelled him to 
abandon teaching there; $16,000 worth of his property 
was confiscated; at Binghamton, N. Y., 1862 to 1865; 
at Amenia, !N". Y., 1865-66; in charge of the public 
schools at Vineland, N". J., from 1866 to 1884, where he 
now resides. 



Class Meeting. 



Schenectady, N. Y., Union College, June 24, 1884. 

Pursuant to a resolution, unanimously adopted by the 
Class of '54 at its graduation, appointing a reunion of the 
class in thirty years. The following members answered the 
roll call at a meeting in Washburn Hall, June 24, 1884. 

J. I. Bennett, B. B. Burton, 

J. H. Burtis, P. Furbeck, 

P. R. Furbeck, J. D. Hall, 

A. L. King, D. Marvin, 

P. Miller, W. D. Murphy, 

C. D. Nott, E. Nott, 

E. W. Eice, D. Water bury, 

D. M. Westfall, A. Wilson, 
M. W. Woodworth, A. A. Yates. 

Dr. P. E. Furbeck, of Glover sville, IN". Y., called the 
meeting to order and on motion Judge J. I. Bennett of 
Chicago, was appointed chairman and Dr. Furbeck tempor- 
ary secretary. Judge Bennett on taking the chair thanked 
the class for the honor of selecting him as chairman, and 
expressed his great pleasure in meeting his classmates once 
more after the lapse of thirty years, in the halls of "old 
Union." 

Judge Austin A. Yates was elected President of the 
class for the ensuing decade and Dr. Peter E. Furbeck, 
secretary. 

On motion it was resolved, that there be appointed an 



30 Class Meeting. 

Executive Committee of live members (including the Pres- 
ident and Secretary of the class, to be ex-officio members), 
be elected, whose duty it shall be to obtain and keep full 
statistics and records of the class, to arrange for a reunion 
of the class in 1894, and to bring to the attention of the 
class any question from time to time pending, to promote 
the highest interests of Union College. 

Judge J. I. Bennett, Rev. E. W. Rice, and Rev. C. D. 
Nott, Judge A. A. Yates and Dr. P. R. Furbeck were 
elected members of this committee. The committee was 
authorized to fill any vacancy that might occur. 

Hon. J. H. Burtis moved that the committee be request- 
ed to correspond with every member of the class with a 
view to publishing a memorial volume of the class — 
motion adopted. 

On motion of Rev. M. W. Woodworth it was resolved 
that the committee be directed to prepare and print a histori- 
cal record of the class, an account of the present reunion, 
embodying therein the address to be delivered by Judge 
Bennett and the poem by Rev. Dr. Rice. 

Hon. Alex. Wilson, Attorney General of Wisconsin, 
was appointed to respond for the class at the Alumni 
banquet. 

After the transaction of the business of the meeting, 
"Remarks were in order," which, in the absence of Prex., 
Prof., or Tutor, all were prepared, and gleefully recounted 
incidents of college life of thirty years ago, inquired after 
absent ones, or spoke tenderly and feelingly of those who 
had crossed the river — departed but not forgotten. 

Hon. D. Waterbury was appointed to preside at the 
public meeting of the class, and Rev. C. D. iNott to offici- 
ate as Chaplain. 

Mention was made of the class banquet to be held at 
the Memorial Hall, in the evening, and it was resolved 



Class Meeting. 31 

that all attend and that Dr. Foster be invited to preside 
with Judge Yates, the President of the class. 

On motion the meeting adjourned subject to the call of 
the Executive Committee. 

P. K. FURBECK, 

Secretary. 



The Poem. 



The Class of 1854 met with, the Alumni of Union Col- 
lege in the afternoon of June *24, 1884, at the College 
Chapel, and the Rev. E. W. Rice, D. D., read the Class 
Poem. 

TRICENNIAL DAY.— 1854-1884. 

" Thirty years have passed," they say, 
Though it was but yesterday — 
Boys with swelling pride we bore 
Mystic parchments from your door. 
We are young: the morning sun 
Lights the race we've just begun. 

Life's a Rip Van Winkle dream; 
Actors seldom what they seem; 
Strange, these lads with heads of gray; 
" Lawyers, Doctors," do you say? 
" Clergy, Judges," grave and wise ? 
Nay; they're boys; you fool my eyes! 

Call the roll; where eighty odd, 
Part are here and part with God. 
With shattered ranks, on we tread, 
Weaving chaplets for the dead; 
In the thickest of the fight, 
One by one we drop from sight. 

Fierce the combat, right with wrong — 
On ye valiant, swell our throng — 
Riches, honor, place and fame 
Are but rattles round one's name — 
Life is earnest, life is grand, 
When for truth and God we stand. 

Times are changed; gold is god; 
Schools must pander to its nod. 
Classic culture; what a waste ! 
Lighter learning suits the taste; 
Wealth for show, and greed for gain, 
Skill in tricks: su^h graces reign. 



The Poem. 33 

Price of stocks in Greek sounds queer, 
"Puts and Calls" at Latin sneer, 
Gossip wails through Syriac, 
Fashion dies in Arabic. 
Sterling virtue shames such day, 
Truest worth is flung away. 

Honored men who trained our youth, 
Higher good and grander truth, 
Pointed out from Ida's peak, 
Pearls on Zion's hill to seek; 
And, if humble in the strife, 
Virtue, worth, exalt our life. 

Sons of genius: men of brains, 

Ruled these halls, where science reigns; 

Few remain; the more above, 

Green forever in our love. 

Mark the two from foreign clime, 

How they made their lives sublime. * 

He who measured depths in space, 
Weighed the worlds on worlds which grace, 
Starry gardens in the sky; 
Counts he now the worlds on high? "j" 

Crowned, thou Christian scholar rare, 
King supreme in Attic chair, 
Mighty time-worlds he outlined, 
God's creative week defined. % 

Blessings on thee, man of might, 
Master in the rule of right, 
Versed in science of the mind, 
Royal thinker of thy kind. || 

Speak ye, gray and ivied walls, 
Ringing once with trumpet calls 
Of persuasive silver tongue; 
Linger yet some tones that flung 
Soothing strains on bitter tears, 
Sunlit hope on darkest fears ? 

Noble, manly, genial face, 
Giant mind with childlike grace, 
Prince and Nestor in thy art, 
Reading secrets of the heart — 
Taught by thee, rare, happy lot, 
Glorious Teacher, kingly Nott. j"j" 



34 The Address. 

* William M. Gillespie, LL. D., Prof, of Civil Engineering and Adj. 
Prof. Math. 1845-68. Elias Peissner, Prof. German Lang, and Litera- 
ture, 1854-63. 

t Isaac W. Jackson, LL. D., Prof, of Math., 1831-77. 

J Tayler Lewis, LL. D., Prof. Ancient Oriental Languages and Lit- 
erature, 1849-77. 

|| Laurens P. Hickok, D. D., LL. D., Prof .Mental and Moral Science, 
and Vice President, 1852-61. Acting President and President, 1861-68. 

tt Eliphalet Nott, D. D., LL. D., President, 1804-66. 



The Address. 



Hon. John I. Bennett then delivered the class address, 

THE LESSONS AND DUTIES OF THE HOUR. 
Classmates ! Ladies and Gentlemen: 

Standing here, again, in this presence, after a lapse 
of thirty years — how vividly there comes back to each of 
us the occasion in which we then as a class took a part — 
the semi-centennial anniversary of Dr. Nott's Presidency 
of Union College, and our graduation day. Of all the 
days which a kind providence has permitted us to live, the 
recollection of the occurrences of none are so vivid as those 
of that day. Here were assembled from all the States and 
Territories of the United States, the Alumni of Union 
College — to do homage to their great teacher, and lay at 
his feet the fruits, which they had garnered, of that educa- 
tion which they had received at this Institution. Emi- 
nent divines, judges, statesmen — learned members of all 
the professions — and from every section, were here to ten- 
der the worship of their love and devotion to their Alma 
Mater. It may be safely said that such an assembly of 
educated, able and destinonished men — and in such num- 
bers — had never before, and has never since, convened on 



The Address. 35 

this Continent. Here was the venerable Dr. Wayland, 
then and for many years before President of Brown Uni- 
versity — his locks silvered with age, addressing the more 
venerable Nott, in the opening address of the occasion, as 
his dear teacher, and ascribing to him the marked success 
of a long and useful life, saying, — -" An aged man, the 
Nestor of American teachers, finds himself this day sur- 
surrounded by pupils who have assembled from every state 
in our Union, to offer him their filial congratulations." * * 
"Venerable man! We rejoice to see that thine eye is not 
dim, though thy natural force is abated by years. We 
thank you for your care over our youth; we thank you for 
those counsels which have so often guided our manhood; 
we thank you for that example which has ever so clearly 
pointed out to us the path of earnest duty and self forget- 
ful charity." 

And here were our dear teachers, also — not with us on 
this occasion — the profound Hickok, the learned Lewis, 
the versatile Peissner, the brilliant and practical Grillespie, 
and the clear-visioned Jackson — names even then distin- 
guished throughout the world of science, literature and 
philosophy. And last of all was here the w^orld-renowned 
Nott. We can see him now — as he stood before the as- 
sembled thousands of his pupils — his hair as white as 
snow — bending beneath the weight of eighty -one years, 
leaning upon his cane, in his accustomed way, when, with 
that hesitancy of speech which, in his case and in none 
other which I can remember, added to the eloquence of 
his utterances — he commenced that address, which we have 
all so much admired ever since, and in which he said — 
"Gone, all gone! and I stand here alone today among you, 
beloved pupils, the last remaining relic of a former age, as 
the leafless, storm-stricken forest tree stands amid trees of 
younger growth, breasting the storm and rejoicing in their 
strength." And then, my classmates, you and I, in this 



36 The Address. 

distinguished presence, each in turn, preformed the part 
which had been assigned to us — to mark the end of our 
college course, — the end of an era of intellectual 
joy, of unselfish friendships, of boundless hopes and 
vaulting but untried ambitions — and the commencement 
of a new era of struggle, of contest, of labor and achieve- 
ment — in the presence of selfishness and coldness before 
then to us unknown. The sound of the melodious "prox- 
imus" was heard for the last time, we received the last 
congratulations and greetings of our teachers and friends — 
for the last time the warm grasp of hands which had 
never betrayed, the tearful look into eyes which had never 
deceived — our voices faltered upon quivering lips, our 
last farwells — and boldly and confidently we went out to 
take our places in the thickest of the fight — in the great 
battle of life. 

Thirty years have passed ! We come back a shattered 
remnant of what we then were. More than one-third of 
the number of those who went out with us on that Com- 
mencement day, — quite as confident of victory, with hopes 
as buoyant, with ambitions as strong, and expectations of 
life asearnest and well assured, as any of us had, — have 
fallen by the way. 

We are here to spend a few brief hours — at most a few 
days — in renewing these sacred recollections ; and in living 
over again in memory these happiest days of life. It is 
not for me, on this occasion, to treat of subjects properly 
falling within the limits of what pertains to the history 
of those of us who survive, or those of our comrades who 
have fallen. That duty has been well preformed by 
another. Nor should I trespass upon themes incident to 
the reminiscences of college days. The enjoyment of 
those subjects is for another occasion. Nor does this 
seem to your speaker an occasion for serious discussion of 
profound subjects of science. We have met as a class — 



The Address. 37 

after having, in various capacities, taken a part in the af- 
fairs of the world for almost a third of a century — of 
active life — during a period of activities, also, in which 
has transpired events — equal perhaps in numbers and im- 
portance — to those transpiring during any one century 
since the commencement of authentic history, prior to 
our time. Our avarage lives already measure more than 
half a century. . It is an occasion, therefore, for a serious 
retrospect of events — which we have witnessed, and of 
which we have formed a part. 

I have chosen, therefore, as a subject of this brief ad- 
dress — The Lessons and Duties of the Hour. 

Since the time we entered college here, the world, the 
habits of the people, the condition of society, the methods 
of intercommunication and transaction of business have 
marvellously changed. At that time there was not a rail- 
road traversing the great state of New York, west of the 
Hudson, and between the New York Central and N. Y. 
& Erie Railroads. Only a few years before that time your 
speaker had made the journey to Illinois and returned with- 
out having seen a railroad train. Two of our class, after 
they left college, made the overland route to California, 
crossing the plains with ox-teams, and occupying more 
than five months of time. The Great West, which is now 
grid-ironed with railroads in every direction, was then a 
field entirely undeveloped in that regard. In our mimic 
congress, the class of 1854 — more in burlesque than in 
earnest — passed the first bill ever considered by a deliber- 
ative body for the construction, by the aid of the govern- 
ment, of a Pacific railroad across the Rocky Moun- 
tains, and we all remember, with the distinctness as of 
the events of yesterday, the discussson of that subject. 
Now already several such lines have been completed, and 
private capital, by the impulse of competition alone, is 
overcoming every difficulty interposed by the formidable 



38 The Address. 

barrier of this mountain range v and a journey to the Pa- 
cific coast now occupies scarcely as many days as at that 
time months. 

The submarine cable is of but recent date. Thirty 
years ago the events transpiring on the Eastern Con- 
tinent could not be known here until weeks, and even 
months, had elapsed. Now we read daily in our morning 
papers, the occurrences of the day before, in every portion 
of the globe. The first uses of the telephone and electric 
light were unknown till a few years since. Thirty years 
ago even telegraphy was not in general use, and was known 
to us rather as a science, to be learned in the text . books 
than as a means practically applied for the use of the 
masses, in the transmission of intelligence. Appliances 
for the performance of labor, in every imaginable depart- 
ment of industry or business, were simple and elemental, 
compared with those in use now. 

I might enlarge, at great length, upon this branch of 
the theme — without transcending the bounds of truth, and 
entirely within our personal knowledge, but neither my 
limits nor the occasion will permit. Turning form these 
physical changes to the body politic— and the transforma- 
tion has been quite as great. At that time the people 
were better and worse than they are now. In the rural 
districts there was then a simplicity, honesty and absence 
of duplicity and deceit in the ordinary transactions of bus- 
iness, and in the relations which go to make up society — 
which are wanting now. There were whole communities 
then, where an elevated and just public sentiment was the 
supreme law, depriving the lawyer of his clients and the 
Courts of crowded calendars— where the criminal was sel- 
dom known; and the "thee" and "thou ought," of friendly 
neighbors was the final arbiter for the settlement of all dis- 
putes. Now few such communities. exist; 

Following close upon the iron age of practical invention, 



The Address. 39 

and mechanical achievement — -the enlargement of bus- 
iness— the multiplication and diversifications of manufac- 
tures — the sharp comp3tit.io.a in all kinds of commerce — 
the accumulation of immense fortunes — has come, also, 
the spirit of greed and selfishness, the insane and fren- 
zied excitement, begotten of a selfish ambition to outstrip 
others in wealth, in position, and in the control of stupen- 
dous enterprises. Whether we will or will not, the spirit 
is infective. To escape from it, we must escape from so- 
ciety — especially in the great cities, where the magnetism 
of this influence is of necessity most intense. You and I 
are here now, simply because the love we bear to our Alma 
Mater, to the recollections of those dear days of college 
life — alas never to return to us again — and the continuing 
allegiance we hold to each other — is stronger than this 
spirit of gain, begotten largely of these very achievements 
of modern, practical science, of which we so jnstly boast. 
It is because we have broken away from the thousand and 
one seen and unseen forces which held you and me like 
galley slaves in our various places of business or trust — 
slaves to the demands of this modern spirit of greed upon 
us, that we are here today. We can readily believe that 
those of our classmates who are not here, are absent — not 
because they will it; but because they are powerless to 
break through the harness which this spirit of modern 
achievements has thrown upon them. 

Now and then we escape to the mountains, or the for- 
est, or the scenes of guileless childhood, and apart from 
men, lay our ear and heart close to the earth to catch the 
sound and feel the throb of the great heart of nature — or 
peer into the pure Heavens — in order to break the power 
of the magnetism of this modern spirit of gain. 

But there is a brighter side to this picture. When we 
parted here, thirty years ago, this country was " half slave 
and half free." Today the boast of: England's poet, Cow- 
per, is ours. 



40 The Address. 

" Slaves cannot breathe in England ; if their lungs 
Receive our air, that moment they are free; 
They touch our country and their shackles fall." 

The day is at hand when the prejudices of locality, or 
malice of unnatural hearts, shall not be strong enough to 
prevent the enforcement, on every foot of soil within the 
United States, of all national and state laws guarantee- 
ing to all men equal protection before the law, of all their 
rights, without regard to. condition in life. When we 
parted here, the dark cloud of Rebellion, which for so long 
a time cast gloom and sorrow over our land, had not burst 
upon us. 

I shall never forget the troubled, earnest look, with 
which one of our classmates from Kentucky — the beloved 
Street, now an honored Iowa banker — accosted me one 
morning in 1854, with, "Well, what do you think will 
come of the passage of this Kansas-Nebraska bill ?" — at the 
same time adding, " I believe it will bring about a war 
between the North and the South." The prediction of 
our brave, but woman-hearted, conscientious classmate 
proved true. The cause, however, lay back of any legis- 
lation of Congress. The disease which afflicted our body 
politic was so deeply seated, that no nostrum could 
cure it. 

That wonderful man who arose in the West — just at 
the time when the demand for such a man came — simple 
and unpretending, honest and true — struck the keynote of 
the situation, when he said to the nation — in. a voice 
which was caught up as if it had come from the Heavens — 
"This nation cannot live half slave and half free." That 
word made Lincoln President, and freed the slave. The 
contest was a long, and, at times, a doubtful one; but the 
love of country proved itself stronger than the combined 
forces which slavery was able to summon to its support. 
Yet the preservation of liberty required the costly baptism. 



The Address. 41 

of heroic blood. One of our classmates yielded ivp his 
life in the defense of the Union. Others of them per- 
formed patriotic service, both in military and civil life. 
Among those, also, who were with us here as companions, 
were the gallant Strong, who fell heroically leading the 
assault upon Fort Wagner, off Charleston, and the brave 
Hartranft, whom Pennsylvanians delight to honor. 

The hour has now passed when the motives of brave 
men, who fought on either side of that contest, can be 
questioned. The class of '54 furnished in about equal 
numbers on either side, those who engaged in that struggle, 
in support of the Union or supposed defense of their fam- 
ilies and friends. The time has now come when we 
mourn the dead and honor the living, alone for the heroic 
and manly qualities which they displayed. 

At a fearful cost of blood and treasure the "Rebellion 
was suppressed, the slaves were freed, and freedom through- 
out the land, for all time, was guaranteed in the Constitu- 
tion. The state is no longer composed of warring elements \ 
but is fairly started on its new career of homogeniety. 
The era of good feeling between the sections has returned, 
or is rapidly approaching. Our nation is united and 
free. 

It remains. to be seen, however, whether the American 
people will successfully meet and overcome the new dan- 
gers which threaten our institutions. The liberation of 
4,000,000 slaves, who were necessarily in a state of ignor- 
ance, and their investiture with the franchise of citizen- 
ship, was, in itself, a severe test of the elective system. 
But the constant influx, and easy enfranchisement of a for- 
eign population, largely unmstructed iii the theory and gen- 
ius of our institutions — often, on. account of advanced age 
before emigration, educated in ideas of government 
entirely at war with the fundamental principles of owr 
Government — threaten constant and renewed peril to the 



42 The Address. 

permanency of American ideas. We are in danger of 
becoming daily less and less American. The foreign pop- 
ulation of our large cities is already either in the majority 
or possess the political power of controlling the elections. 
So long as this is so, American ideas are in danger of 
being subordinated. Nor do our Constitution or laws 
furnish any check to this tendency in the Republic. That 
the oppressed of all nations should find an asylum in the 
United States is an American idea. The unrestricted 
prevalence of that idea is necessary, in my judtxment, to 
to the perpetuation of liberty in this country. Any attempt 
to abridge this idea — by prohibitory legislation aimed at 
any people on the globe — is an infraction of a fundamen- 
tal principle of the theory of our government, and once 
commenced — it is uncertain against whom, it may not 
finally be aimed. The recent attempt in that direction, 
as applied to the Chinese (while apparently plausible 
reasons are urged in its defense), as well as all attempts at 
compulsory education or compulsory military service — 
are not American; but are borrowed from abroad. It 
has indeed come to such a pass, in some localities, that an 
American can scarcely be elected to office. The American 
politician, like Peter denying Christ, must often, in order 
to succeed, deny the place of his nativity. 

Partly in consequence of these changes in the construc- 
tion of American society, and the masses who exercise the 
franchise, have come changes to the judicial and legislative 
branches of the national and state governments. Almost 
entirely within this period the elective system of the state 
judiciary has come into vogue. If this system has its ad- 
vantages, it also has its evils. Under it the judge is de- 
pendent upon the" popular vote, for his continuation in, as 
w T ell as elevation to, office. lie must be more than human, 
who, at times, wittingly or unwittingly, does not pander to 
popular prejudice or popular favor. Often the re-election 



The Address. 43 

of the judge absolutely depends upon it. Too often judo-es 
are elected by a party vote. It is natural that he should 
appear to magnify the power and intelligence of juries 
which he was elected to control. Hence the too lax en- 
forcement of criminal laws, about which there is, just now, 
so much, clamor. The fault is not so much in the laws, as 
in the failure to enforce them. 

Hence the bonds of society are relaxed — the public lose 
confidence in and respect for the laws and those who ad- 
minister them. This is, in my judgment, largely the re- 
sult of the elective judiciary system, as it now exists, and 
the fault of the people themselves. The time has not yet 
arrived — revolutions seldom move backward — but the good 
sense of the majority, which always asserts itself when it 
becomes necessary, will, in time, restore at least a partially 
appointive state judiciary, or greatly extend the period of 
tenure of the judicial office. The American people have 
always shown just enough wisdom and practical sense to 
do the right thing whenever it becomes necessary that it 
should be done. 

In the legislative halls the business man has, in a great 
measure, taken the place of the orator and the theoretical 
statesman. We rarely find, in these days, the Clays, and 
Websters, and Calhouns, and Sewards, in either House of 
Congress. The brains of the nation are in business — the 
editorial offices, the pulpits, the legal forums. The men 
who go to Congress are, too often, smaller men than these, 
and are there, not as the representatives of the people 
whose votes elected them, but as the ao-ents of these ma- 
terial interests of the country, or the men who control 
them. This is so when the American people are in repose,, 
but when a crisis comes — when some overgrown wrong is. 
to be righted — when the safety or perpetuity of the natiou 
is imperilled — the people always prove, just in time, equal 
to the emergency, and select their best men to represent 



44 The Address. 

them in legislation. So long as this shall remain so —so 
long as the patriotism, the intelligence, the conservatism of 
the masses shall remain in the majority — our institutions 
are safe. Our threatened clanger lies in that these may, 
from the sources which I have in part indicated, be over- 
come 'and subordinated by their opposites. 

The marked improvement in the newspaper press of the 
country during the last thirty years is a cause for earnest 
congratulation. The increase of enterprise and ability dis- 
played by the press of today has kept pace in advance- 
ment with the multiplicity of their issues. This has proved 
a universal educator, and has, doubtless, gone a great way 
toward counteracting tendencies which would otherwise 

o 

have proved of detriment to the state. 

These chancres have also affected the methods of educa- 
tion and of educational institutions. When we were here 
in college, there had not yet been generally established by 
law, with anything like completeness of detail, any com- 
prehensive system for the maintenance of common and 
public schools. The schoolmaster was indeed abroad in the 
land, and the zest for acquiring an edaeation was quite as 
great then as now; but the states had not yet clothed school 
officers with sufficiently comprehensive and complete pow- 
ers to levy and collect taxes for their equipment and main- 
tenance. These perfected school laws are of a later growth. 
JSTow, in the remotest territory of the United States, the 
first taxes imposed are for the erection of the school-house 
and the employment of competent teachers to instruct the 
young. This tends constantly to the prevention and reduc- 
tion of illiteracy, and the diffusion of intelligence among 
the masses. At the same time it has had the effect to 
multiply and localize colleges and universities, and to dim- 
inish the attendance Upon and comparative prominence of 
the older institutions. It has also had the further effect 
to create a sentiment, it seems to me now too prevalent, 



The Address. 45 

in favor of the pursuit of the physical, material and practi- 
cal sciences, so called, to the exclusion of those studies 
which are pursued professedly, mainly or solely for mental 
development and discipline, and without regard to imme- 
diate coinage into dollars and cents. Under this modern 
tendency the graduates of the public school and of special 
schools devoted exclusively to instruction in the material 
and mechanical arts and sciences, challenge the wisdom of 
the curriculum of the older colleges. This sentiment, be- 
cause of its popularity, is sometimes voiced by the gradu- 
ates of these colleges themselves. To me it is a humiliating 
spectacle, to see one whose reasoning faculties have been 
strengthened and clarified in the very mastery of the theo- 
rems of pure mathematics — whose power of language, whose 
intuitive verbal knowledge and sense of refined distinctions 
of meaning and expression has been acquired solely or mainly 
by the study of the Latin, and, especially, the Greek lan- 
guage — become the ready advocate of their abolition from 
the course of study which the young men of this country 
should pursue. 

How often have we listened to arguments— the very op- 
posite of those advanced by these modern educational re- 
formers — while under the instruction here of that great 
and good man, Dr. Lewis. And Dr. Lewis was right. 
Those studies which serve to develop the mental faculties, 
to strengthen the memory, the reason, the imagination, in 
the very effort of their mastery, without lumbering the 
mind as a storehouse of material facts, utterly useless, ex- 
cept as utilized by these intellectual powers, are really the 
most practical studies after all. You and 1 have largely 
forgotten the Latin and the Greek, and the theorems in 
pure mathematics which were taught us by a Lewis, a Fos- 
ter, or a Gillespie, while we were here; but you have never 
prepared a sermon, written an argument, or delivered a 
legal opinion, or addressed an audience, or written a line 



46 * The Address. 

of any literary or scientific work, but you have drawn upon 
the intellectual strength which yon acquired here in the 
mastery of those studies. 

While we may well rejoice in much that is new, let us 
hold fast to that which is good in the old. We have found 
no account or theory of creation better than that contained 
in the first chapter of Genesis, and no sermon superior to 
the Sermon on the Mount. The philosophies of Socrates 
and Plato suffer little by comparison with much of modern 
philosophy. The ancient poets Homer and Yirgil are still 
worthy of a place, in our libraries alongside of Shakespeare, 
Milton, Longfellow and Bryant. True, in invention and 
mechanical achievements, we have shaken faith in the old 
maxim, " There is nothing new under the sun;" but we 
must not be carried so far in even this unbelief as to for- 
get that much of that which is old, and has stood the test 
of the centuries, is interwoven with and forms a substantial 
part of the new. I hope the time will not come, in my 
day, when the wisdom of the Notts, D wights, Everetts, 
and Waylands, which ordained that the study of the Latin 
and Greek languages should constitute an essential part of 
a classical course at all of the time-honored colleges of the 
United States, including Harvard, Yale, and Union, shall 
be overruled by this narrow, utilitarian tendency of mod- 
ern times. 

One of the brighest pages in the history of these thirty 
years, is that which records the steady growth of the spirit 
of brotherly love and harmony among the churches, in 
the advancement of all humane and christian enterprises. 
The spirit in which the foundation stones of Union Col- 
lege were laid, by the revered ISTott and his contemporar- 
ies, has become the spirit in which the christian brother- 
hood everywhere have laid the foundations of other 
institutions for the amelioration of human suffering, or 
the extension of christian knowledge. Institutions for 



The Address. 47 

the promotion and support of home and foreign missions, 
are sustained by all christian denominations alike. The 
important work of instructing the youth of the country 
in the teachings of the scriptures, and the principles of 
the christian religion, has been wonderfully systematized 
and extended — so as to meet the wants of every section 
and every condition in life. Sunday-school literature has 
been systematized, simplified and multiplied to such an ex- 
tent — the thinking has been done so well, for the Sunday- 
school scholars of the nation — that there is not a spot on 
the continent so secluded but that the youth are instructed 
and enlightened on these most important subjects. There 
is one of our own class with us here on this occasion- — 
as modest and unpretentious as when we knew him here, 
a third of a century ago — who has contributed, perhaps, 
more than any other living man, to bring about this grand 
result. 

The w r orld will have to move backward a great way, 
before the inquisition, or the stake, or persecution in 
any form, on account of religious belief, can be again re- 
vived anywhere — much less in the United States. The 
partition walls between the denominations are being rapidly 
demolished — doctrinal controversies are less sharp — men 
are more tolerant with the religious views of others — 
more ready to accord to them honesty of purpose, and less 
positive that the path to Heaven which their theology has 
marked out, is the only one possible to an omnipotent God. 
Some denominations have almost, or quite, disappeared; 
but at the same time of their disappearence their views 
have become prominent in the practices, if not in the 
creeds of other churches. If we see less of the Quaker's 
garb, we see more of his beliefs in all of the churches. 
I am not one of those who fear that this liberalization of 
the sects tends to unsettle the foundations of Christianity. 
The truth always suffers more from fortified ignorance, 



48 The Address. 

,than from the focalized rays of science and knowledge. 
The waters of the Great Lakes may be temporarily stirred 
np by the passing storm; only to be clearer and purer 
when the succeeding calm comes. The progress which in- 
fidelity is apparently making is only seeming. 

The agitators of unbelief have only to be allowed free- 
dom of discussion to convince the thoughtful that the de- 
mands of infidelity upon one's faith are. infinitely greater 
than are required to believe in the essentials of the Christ- 
ian religion. 

I have thus taken a cursory view of a few of the changes 
which have occurred, and events which have transpired, 
since we met here as a class thirty years ago. We have 
hastily taken a survey of the heavens, in order to learn our 
latitude and longitude in this great sphere of space and 
time which we call life. As the watchman on the watch- 
tower is wont to call out in the night time, " What of the 
night?" so we may ask wmat of the day? The great orbs 
which were thirty years ago just rising, to our seeming, in 
the eastern horizon, when we parted here, have steadily 
but surely moved upward and onward across the heavens, 
and have already passed the meridian. They seem to us 
now to move downward toward the western horizon with 
greatly accelerated motion. We know the laws* of gravi- 
tation do not change. It is certain that these shining orbs 
will ere long go down in darkness and leave us never again 
. to be illumined by their light. One half of the years 
which have passed since we met here before is a reasonable 
limit to be placed as the period of activity remaining to 
us. Probably to most of us that period will be even 
shorter. We are admonished by the situation, to " Work 
wdiile it is day ; for the night cometh when no man can 
work! " 

What duties, then, remain for the Class of 1854? 
It is not for me to assume to instruct my classmates. I 
the rather need instruction myself from them. We have* 



The Address. 49 

each of us doubtless clone our duty, as it has been shown 
to us by an all-wise Providence. Our individual courses 
are so fixed that it were well-nigh impossible to change 
them were it desirable. You will continue to discharge 
the high and sacred offices of ministers of the gospel — to 
administer to the sick — to plead at the bar — to decide causes 
on the bench — to shape legislation in the state and na- 
tional legislatures, and, as business men in various spheres, 
to conduct and superintend your affairs. The duties, how- 
ever, which devolve upon us as educated men, still bear 
upon us with increased weight, by reason of our experi- 
ence and advance in years, to exert our influence for con- 
servatism — in society, in the church, and in the state. 
Educated men are always the most conservative. By con- 
servatism I do not mean a senseless adhesion to hoary error 
merely because it is aged, but an intelligent steadfastness 
to that which experience has shown, and a well-balanced 
rational judgment affirms, is better than the untried; or 
the manifestly vicious in law, in conduct, or in faith. In 
the process of assimilation which is now taking place 
throughout the world, American ideas are not only diffused 
abroad, but are being more or less displaced at home by 
foreign notions. It will devolve largely upon the educated 
classes to stem the tide of erroneous thought, and to ab- 
sorb and remold it. A fervid patriotism, a loyal adhesion 
to the ideas of the fathers of the Republic, a preservation 
of the spirit of independence and individuality which dis- 
tinguished them — thoroughly believed in and practiced by 
the educated men of the country — will be the surest guar- 
antee for the preservation of the Republic. It is not for 
them to manacle themselves with the shackles of party, or 
the too narrow creeds of sects; nor yet to bend before the 
prejudices or pander to the vices of the masses for favor. 
One of the highest duties of educated men is to think for 
themselves, to think correctly, and to impress correct think- 
ing upon the public. 



50 The Address. 

There is another duty devolving npon us, in common 
with the whole body of the Alumni of Union College, 
which I could not blamelessly omit to urge upon you — our 
duty to our Alma Mater. Would to God I could com- 
mand the persuasive eloquence to reach and move into ac- 
tion every Alumnus of Union College on this momentous 
subject. 

Beautiful, indeed, was this mother of ours, when, under 
her nurturing care while here, she directed our youthful 
steps — pointed out to us the infinite wealth of varied knowl- 
edge, threw about us the panoply of her protection; and, 
sending us out into the world with the high resolves which 
she had inspired, pronounced upon us those benedictions 
which have buoyed us up in every struggle of life. ' Our 
recollections of Union College have been a constant source 
of unalloyed joy and satisfaction. Her strength was equal 
to her beauty. In those days there were giants in the land. 
Here were, then, in the meridian of their usefulness, Drs. 
Nott, Hickok, Lewis, Jackson, Foster, Gillespie, Peissner, 
Pearson, and others like them. ~No college in the United 
States could boast another such a Faculty. Not only pro- 
found in every branch of study pursued here, they were 
the authors of the college text books on these subjects. 
As a model orator, profound judge of human nature, con- 
versant with the secret springs of human action, knowing 
by intuition how to control men, Dr. Nott was without 
his equal. These were the subjects of his instructions. 
If the world has had occasion to admire the wise states- 
manship of the Sewards who graduated here, that admira- 
tion should be extended to the teacher as well as the taught. 
If Dr. Nott was consummate in rhetorical art, intuitive 
knowledge, and universal genius, Dr. Hickok was strong, 
direct and overwhelming in his argument; earnest, honest 
and convincing in appeal, and as plain and simple in his 
methods as he was profound in his subjects. He was open 



The Address. 51 

and read of all men. He was a stranger to deceit, and ut- 
terly guileless. 

But at the forge, where with intellectual forces he 
wrought out the principles of intellectual and moral sci- 
ence, he was a Titan. It was our good fortune to receive, 
in oral lectures, his work on intellectual philosophy; and 
his treatise on Moral Science was fresh from the printing 
press to our hands. His own presence as a teacher empha- 
sized and illustrated the principles of these philosophies, 
so that they have remained with us and have ever formed 
a part of our substantial thinking. 

To say that Jackson and Gillespie were mathematical 
geniuses is but partial recognition of their merit. The 
one was thoroughly practical. By the originality of his 
thoughts, illustrations, and interesting methods, Gillespie 
won some of us to his recitations — not because his subjects 
were within our required course, but simply on account of 
the inspiration which he -infused in us ; while to those to 
whom these subjects were primary in importance, he was 
an object of intellectual worship. Gillespie was as thor- 
ough in his teaching and class discipline as in his theoret- 
ical thinking. 

To Dr. Jackson the knowledge of the principles of 
mathematics and their application to light, heat, and phys- 
ics generally, was intuitive. His mathematical concep- 
tions were as clear, as cloudless and rapid as the light to 
which he applied them. His thinking was done, not at his 
desk, but in the College garden, cultivating his beautiful 
flowers. He was at home without a text -book. The ra- 
pidity with which he would construct and illustrate, in 
class, mathematical figures, with his ready pencils, could 
be easily followed by but one man in our class — Westfall. 
When this wonderful man found time to write out his ideas 
in those models of text-books — his Conic Sections, Optics, 
and other works, we, who saw him a walking compendium, 



52 The Address. 

an enthusiastic cultivator and admirer of Dr. Pearson's 
flowers, could never divine. But the works were, never- 
theless, written in such a lucid and orderly manner as to 
be unequaled by those of any other author on the same 
subjects. But Dr. Jackson seemed utterly unconscious of 
his marked intellectual genius. With the plain simplicity 
of the Quaker that was in him, he consented, with the boys 
at commencement, to play the military as their captain; 
and his austerity was never so great but that it would in- 
stantly bend to join in the intellectual or physical sports of 
his pupils. 

If Dr. Jackson was great in the theory and authorship 
of pure mathematics, Dr. Foster was a better teacher of 
his works than the author himself. The best disciplin- 
arian in those palmy days of Union College was Dr. John 
Foster. In that meridian time of his life no pupil in his 
class could escape the scrutiny of his searching questions, 
and not disclose the measure of his knowledge or ignor- 
ance. We all knew it was useless to attempt it. He knew 
by intuition those who had and those who had not their 
lessons; and, strangely enough, the latter and not the for- 
mer were compelled to do all of the reciting. But he was 
as tender-hearted and just as he was thorough and severe. 
Ever conscientious and devoted to his pupils, the deserving 
never failed to find a friend in him. Let us thank God 
that this venerable and faithful teacher of ours is still per- 
mitted, by a kind Providence, to fill and discharge the du- 
ties of his place in Union College, and that we, his chil- 
dren, after the lapse of these many years, are enabled again 
to assemble as a class, in the old place, and tender to our 
beloved teacher the homage of grateful hearts. 

And yet another is here, who, with equal fidelity in 
recitation or in field, taught us the beauties of the flowers, 
or heard us in Conic Sections, or aided us in selections 
from the college library, or ministered in any field where 



The Address. 53 

duty called. Every student, always and everywhere, felt 
the warm pulsations of Dr. Pearson's heart. lie was the 
friend of everybody and that friendship was mutual. Our 
hearts are doubly grateful that he, too, survives to meet us 
on this occasion. 

"We greet, also, with extended hands, him who taught us 
our first lessons in intellectual philosophy, from Amber- 
crombie. Dr. Lamoroux seems to renew his youth. We re- 
joice that he seems scarcely older than when we first met 
him, at the old West College, thirty-three years ago. 

Two others remain to mention, whose resting places are 
marked in yonder college cemetery. I always associate 
them together — the brilliant and lamented Peissner, and 
the revered Lewis. We knew the former fresh from 
the German University — with an accuracy, profundity and 
versatility of knowledge unequalled for one of his years, 
lie was equally at home in the modern and ancient lan- 
guages, universal and special history, the physical and 
exact sciences. His industry and grasp of comprehension 
was only equalled by his enthusiasm and rapidity of execu- 
tion. Incessant in his teaching, he at the same time was 
devoted to authorship. The world will never forget how 
gallantly he fought and fell in his place, in the defense of 
his adopted country. 

But perhaps the best known to fame of any of these 
great men, whom we were privileged to have as instruct- 
ors, except Dr. Nott, was Dr. Lewis. The general schol- 
ar who had read his writings knew him to be learned and 
great; but it remained for those who knew Dr. Lewis per- 
sonally and most intimately to hold him in highest esteem. 
He had then written his work on The Six Days of Creation, 
edited Plato Contra Atheos, and was a constant and vol- 
uminous writer for the standard magazines. He was ack- 
nowledged to be second to none, not only in the United 
States, but in the world, in his knowledge of the Greek 



54 The Address. 

language. We who knew him more intimately — in his 
study, in our own rooms, and in the recitation, who walked 
with him through the college grounds, who heard his 
discourses in explanation or illustration of the Memorabilia, 
or the Illiad or the Phoedon, who read with him the 
Greek Text of the New Testament, who were accus- 
tomed to drink in his profound sayings in philosophy, 
in history, in theology and in political, mental and moral 
science, who discovered that there was no subject which 
he had not thoroughly and completely mastered and which 
he could not, with an apparent unconsciousness of his 
profound attainments, develop and unfold with such 
completeness and clearness as to constantly surprise us — 
could alone understand how great a man Dr. Lewis was. 
But the most charming side of his character was his 
frank simplicity and christian conscientiousness. Natur- 
ally fiery and impetuous — the very "warmth of his nature 
glowed into fervid friendships and enduring attachments 
for those who delighted in his character of thought. 
With more than merely paternal feelings he guarded the 
morals of those students who won his heart — and those of 
us who secured his esteem and love when here, were never 
forgotten by him afterwards.^ The fervor of his devotions 
and the strength of his christian faith could not fail to 
touch the heart and leave their impress there for all time. 
For myself, I must acknowledge, in this presence, that I owe 
more to the teachings of Dr. Lewis for my successes in 
life than to any other one man. 

Such was the Faculty of Union College, when we were 
here thirty years ago. Time has even added to the color- 
ins: of these beautiful characters and their well merited 
fame. Such was our Alma Mater. The picture of her, 
constantly in our hearts, has ever been and is now a thing 
of beauty. 

We would indeed be ungrateful sons did we not cheer- 



The Address. 55 

fully acknowledge the duty we owe to this institution. 

How can we best cancel this obligation ? There are a 
thousand ways in which it can be done. We can give to her 
the devotion of loyal hearts. We can suffer no evil 
thoughts of her — no word of detraction should escape our 
lips, or be spoken in our presence. If others predict evil 
— if jarring strifes, if criminations and recriminations are 
indulged in by others — let oar ears be closed, let neither 
our hearts nor our tongues aid any wrecker of the fair 
name and fame of Union College. If it is true that 
Union College has retrograded, we can aid in her restora- 
tion. We can aid by the contribution of money, if we 
have it; if not that, we can send our sons here to be edu- 
cated. Monied endowments are neither the only nor 
the greatest aids to institutions of learning. They cannot 
inspire the spirit which produces greatness and prosperity. 
That- institution is strongest whose conduct and manage- 
ment is always such as to inspire and insure loyalty and 
devotion on the part of the body of its Alumni. What 
father but delights that his sons should learn from the same 
wise teachers whose wisdom he has tested by time and exper- 
ience, and in the same places which are consecrated in his 
memory, by former associations. Could some power but 
warm the hearts of the Alumni of Union College to the 
degree of patriotic devotion which existed on their part 
thirty years ago, the classes would again be swollen in 
numbers as of yore. 

There is not in all the land an Alumnus of Union Col- 
lege so barren of influence, that he cannot frequently and 
constantly during short intervals, sen! back here students 
to fill the halls and coffers of the Institution. Let us not 
admit that an institution which has on its roll of distin- 
guished sons such names as the Kents, the Spencers, the 
Breeses, the Parkers, the Lawrences, the Starkweathers, 
the Coles, the Harrises and others, at the bar and on the 



56 The Address. 

bench; the Hickoks, the Waylands and the Tappans, in 
metaphysics; the Se wards, the Bayards, and the Arthurs 
in statesmanship; the Becks, the Joslyns, the Deans and 
the Hasbroncks, in medicine; the Jacksons, the Alexan- 
ders, McFarlanes, Macauleys and Smeads, in mathematics; 
the Proudfits, Lews, Peads and Yates, in the 
languages; the Doans, Potters, Breckenridges, Seeleys and 
Notts, in the pulpit ; the Tottens, Stoddards, Meigs, Woods, 
Nevins, Footes, Sherwoods, Gilberts and Waylands, as 
college presidents, as well as the thousands of her Alumni, 
scattered all over the land— living, active, potential forces 
in the communities where they live — has not the inherent 
power to perpetuate their Alma Mater. 

I shall not permit myself to indulge in crimination. 
If errors have been committed, let them be correeted. If 
the college has in some measure forgotten her sons, let the 
policy be changed. The law of mutuality cannot be vio- 
lated, even by mothers, with impunity. The sons of 
Union should everywhere be made to feel that they are 
remembered at their maternal home. The text books 
which her distinguished sons have written, and which may 
have been inconsiderately laid aside, should be restored. 
Her capable men should be called to fill vacancies in the 
Faculty when they occur. The rule should not be exclu- 
sive. Profound scholars, who were graduated at other in- 
stitutions — justly honored and esteemed — have always 
filled and still fill professorships in the college. This 
should, however, be the exception, not the rule. If any 
portion of the past of the college has not been altogether 
what could be desired, let the spirit of mutual forbearance, 
charity and good will soften and rapidly displace the ac- 
rimony which may have been engendered. Let the same 
spirit which actuated its early founders — the Schuylers, 
the Yateses, the YanPensellaers, the Yeederg, and others, 
who contributed its first funds, return. Let the broad and 



The Address. 57 

catholic spirit of tlie great Nott again possess the institu- 
tion. Let the Alumni send their sons here to be educated. 
Let them influence their friends to do likewise. Let those 
who can, as God shall enable them, add to the endow- 
ments of the college. At the same time, let the policy of 
the management be broad enough to take in the whole 

© © 

United States. Wherever an Alumnus of Union college 

© 

resides, let him be as dear to Alma Mater as tliouo-li his 
residence were here in the Mohawk Valley, or under the 
very shadow of these college walls. Let the unseemly con- 
tests over Alumni trustees cease. Let the spirit of par- 
tisanship be a disqualification for that place. 

Alumni of Union College! When this shall be done — 

© 

then there will come here constantly, from term to term — 
from the great west, the distant south — the New England 
and middle states — from every state in the union — youno- 
men whose fathers and whose grandfathers graduated here. 
The catalogues will repeat the names of forty and fifty 
years ago, and Union college will start on a career of pros- 
perity, eminence and usefulness, to continue, under the 
blessings of Providence let us hope, forever. 

Let the revolving years come and go — let generation 
succeed generation — let college Presidents and college 
Faculties change, let the Alumni of Union college, who 
now live, in obedience to an inexorable law of nature, 
return to earth, and their names pass into oblivion; but 
let Union College herself, founded almost cotemporane- 
ously with, and upon foundation principles as broad and 
munificent as those of the Government itself, continue, 
amid all these changes, herself unchanged, receiving an- 
nually fresh vigor from the nation's life, and giving to it 
in return loyal, patriotic, educated men, to maintain and 
perpetuate it for all time; and if, at last, she must fail, 
let her go down only amid the crumbling ruins of dissev- 
ered states, and the expiring throes of free, Republican 

5 



58 The Class Banquet. 

government, which God grant, may be averted until time 
shall be no more. 

When the address was concluded, the venerable Dr. John 
Foster arose and said: 

"It has always heretofore been my experience with classes 
in Union college, that after long vacations, the recitations 
are almost certain not to be so good as during the term. 
The exercises of this class, on this occasion, seem to be an 
exception to the rule. You must have improved this long 
vacation of thirty years, for I am quite certain I never 
heard you recite so well before." (Applause.) 

A unanimous, vote of thanks was then tendered Dr. 
Rice and Judge Bennett for the poem and address, and 
the class adjourned to meet at the banquet in the evening. 



The Class Banquet. 



In the evening the members of the class, together with 
the wives and children of some of them, met at Memorial 
Hall to partake of the Class Banquet which had been pre- 
pared for the occasion. Seventeen members of the class 
were present: Bennett, Burton, Burtis, P. P. Furbeck, 
P. Furbeck, Hall, King, Miller, Murphy, C. D. Nott, E. 
Nott, Pice, Waterbury, Westfall, "Wilson, Woodworth and 
Yates. Marvin had been compelled to leave before the 
banquet, and Abell did not arrive in time to be present. 

Memorial Hall was beautifully lighted and decorated 
for the banquet. It was the first time the class of 1854 
had ever entered it as a class. They had seen its picture in 
the old catalogues, and played about its incipient foun- 
dations, but never before had they appreciated the magnif- 
icence and grandeur of the idea of the venerable j^ott, now 
materalized in this elegant structure. 



The Class Banquet. 59 

Dr. John Foster presided. When the members had 
partaken of the supper, the venerable Dr. Foster said: 

"Young gentlemen, it affords me great pleasure, after 
so long a vacation as this, to meet you again in recitation. 
I expect you have learned your lessons pretty well. My 
rule used to be not to call upon those who I was satisfied^ 
were prepared for the recitation. I shall vary the rule on 
this occasion. I am compelled to call upon you all in 
this recitation; I shall omit none of you — I perceive some 
of the boys are absent — and ask you to recite the lessons 
you have learned during the last thirty years." 

The venerable teacher then called up in succession every 
member of the class present, in imitation, of a recitation; 
who in turn referred to incidents of college life, which 

© 

came back to memory as they again looked upon the places 
so familiar to them thirty years before, and upon the 
same faces and forms which they had then met in recita- 
tion, noting the changes which time and care had wrought. 

' © © © 

Laughter and tears, witty rapartee and muffled, sad heart- 
throbs followed each other in rapid succession, as the 
speakers at times recalled the joyous incidents, or ludi- 
crous happenings of college days, and again would turn 
aside to weep at the remembrance of beloved classmates 
gone before. The old college songs were sung at inter- 
vals, in which all joined. It was after midnight when the 
last scholar had recited his lesson. During the exercises 
a poem, written for the occasion, was read by Dr. Rice. 



"BOYS OF '54." 
1 

Welcome, boys of Fifty-four, 
Toiling on life's rugged shore! 
Now dull care toss at our feet, 
College history to repeat; 
Early friendships here renew, 
Union students be bran-new. 



60 The Class .Banquet. 



Alma Mater first we greet, 

College sports our next conceit. 

Out with oar and ball and bat, 

Greek and Latin quiescat; 

Optics, physics disappear, 

Books — oh pother — Profs., who fear? 

3 

On with boots, don your cap; 
Lock your door — " taking a nap," 
Skip the campus, swiftly fly — ■ 
" Prex is napping" — who'll us spy? 
Dodge through hedge, leap the wall; 
What a splendid caterwaul! 

4 

" Who cut nightly pranks ?" — some lout, 
Callow Freshman, "smoking out;" 
Ghostly noise defying rule; 
(I don't tell such tales from school), 
City bumpkins made the "row," 
College boys are nice, I trow. 

5 

How the moments quickly glide! 
Back to daily tasks we stride; 
Dig in Greek, Virgil scan, 
(Who'll be master when I'm man?) 
Crooked root and tangled line, 
What's this word? how that decline? 

6 
Hark! the recitation bell; 
Why should I our sorrows tell? 
How one " balked," Prof, called "next;" 
He from " chum " had crammed his text. 
Rose for rattling, ringing " rowel," 
Made a "fizzle" — sat — an owl! 

7 

Mind you Charlie, John and Jim, 
How the " poney " helped us skim 
Classics tough? With ease and grace 
Dash through Aristophanes ? 
How in physics " ponies " fail, 
Foster rode us on a rail! 



The Class Banquet. 61 

I 
Judge Yates also read the Commencement Poem spoken 

by Frank Phelps, upon his graduation, in~1854. 

THE SOUL'S SEASONS. 

As in the ponderous rolling of the year, 

The various seasons pass and disappear ; 

So life along a changeful current moves 

Through toil's hot sun and joy's refreshing groves, 

Spring's modest wild-flower, summer's perfumed rose, 

Brown autumn's gold, and winter's ghastly snows. 

First comes, with garments dripping, life's young dew, 

The spring of childhood, when the soul is new — - 

Ere summer's heat has burned youth's fiery coal, 

Or winter's storm can freeze the yearning soul. 

In this pure season all life's landscapes seem 

But joy and beauty to its baby dream; 

Gay, careless glee is ever sweetest food 

To life's bright, verdant, spring-time Freshmanhood. 

Swifter than thought these merry cycles glide, 
And, as they sink in Lethe's rippling tide, 
Youth's summer season sheds a fragrant breath, 
But treads still nearer to the gates of death. 
Life's fiercest wildness holds in strong control 
The fitful bubblings of the ardent soul: 
Time's new-trimmed chariot gaily whirls along 
On wheels of mirth with steeds of jolly song; 
Grief's iron cloud obscureth not the eye, 
While stars wink slyly in youth's waggish sky. 

But as the blaze of August's sun descends, 
And fiery heat in freshening coolness ends, 
Youth's rockets cease to emulate the moon — 
Staid autumu comes, and summer zeal is gone, 
Life's motley vineyard must be hourly sought, 
And grapes of peace from toil's dry thistles brought. 
Happy the man who holdeth not his power, 
Nor stays his hand till evening's waning hour; 
His rest shall come — his labor, with the day, 
In all its twilight beauty melt away. 

Now knocks at manhood's gate that frosty sage, 
The winter — season of our own pilgrimage; 
The soul's gay fields have shed their ripened grain, 
And all her fruits are garnered in the brain; 



02 The Class Banquet. 

Life's former joys are rendered doubly dear — 

Delightful sounds to memory's sacred ear. 

At last 'tis finished, and the bitter tear 

Falls all unheeded on the old man's bier. 

We lay his body 'neath the frost-cracked sod, 

And leave his spirit in the hands of God. 

But the pura angel, when it leaves the earth, 

Soars gladly upward to another birth; 

Plucks life's bright snow-drop from the dusky tomb, 

To shed new sweetness in perenniel bloom. 

Brothers, we part. The sun's expiring ray 
Burns in the west the funeral pyre of day; 
His golden race by strength and beauty nursed, 
His dying beams are brighter than his first. 
Though night's gay plumage settles all around, 
And peaceful silence courts the sleeping ground, 
Tomorrow's sun shall tear the pall of night, 
And day once more shall greet his brother, light; 
So may the earthly seasons of your soul 
On wings of kind and holy goodness roll; 
And when your steps by tottering age are pressed, 
Your last kind deed be nobler than the rest, 
So when the darkness comes, and greedy Death 
Makes useless haste to reap the puerile breath, 
Your souls, rejoicing in a heavenly ray, 
Shall hail Eternity's Commencement Day. 

Oh God! whose promise never fades away, 
Keep in thy care these souls that part today; 
Let grace and peace and joy and hope be given, 
And let us meet again in yonder diamond Heaven.. 

FRANK PHELPS. 

Middlebury, Vt., Thursday evening, June 9, 1854. 



Upon the conclusion of the poem, Dr. Foster said : 

"Well, young gentlemen, you have done exceedingly 
well. I can truthfully say you have all " roweled," and I 
shall have to mark you "max." I will appoint the next 
recitation ten years from now, in this place, when I shall 
expect to hear you, and I have no doubt you will have your 
lessons equally well." 



The Class Banquet. 63 

Thereupon, with regrets at parting, the members of the 
Class present separated with much the same feelings 
which they had experienced at their commencement part- 
ing thirty years before! May they meet again, ten years 
hence ! 

PETER E. FURBECK, 

Secretary. 

Note. — Rodney C. Abell arrived too late the evening of 
the banquet to be present. Marvin was compelled to leave 
before. These, with those who were present at the ban- 
quet, made nineteen members of the Class of 1854 who 
were at the reunion. 



Extracts from Letters. 



PROF. ERWIN BAKER. 

Oskaloosa, Iowa, May 7, 1884. 
To E. W. Rice, 
My Dear boy: 

It would do my soul good to be with you in June, to again meet 
the boys, to see the grounds and buildings, Foster and Pearson; 
Dr. Nott and Dr. John, Jackson and Gillispie, Peissner and Lewis we 
shall see over there. 

My life has not been an eventful one, but rather a quiet, laborious 
existence, with but little harm in it. Have ever smiled when others 
are happy and sympathized with the suffering. To do what I could 
and do it as well as I could, has been my ambition. I have kept out of 
politics and tried to make my family comfortable. 

Can not see you this June, but befo e many Junes pass will see you. 

Very Truly, 

ERWIN BAKER. 



The following is an extract from a letter written by 
Hev. Nelson Millard D., D. of the class of '53. 

REV. D WIGHT K. BARTLETT D. D. 

" Rev. Dwight Kellogg Bartlett, D. D., took a high stand in college 
for scholarship, talent, industry and character. He was Greek sal- 
utatorian of his class, and was an especial favorite of Tayler Lewis, 
•both on account of his scholarship and his intellectual acumen and 
force. About eight months after his graduation he was appointed 
tutor in languages at Union, and held the position somewhat over three 
years, until he entered the theological seminary; while tutor he pursued 
metaphysical, theological and philological studies under vice presi- 
dent Hickok, of Union, and Prof. Lewis. He then studied theology in 
the seminary at Princeton, N. J. His first charge was at Armenia, N. 
Y., and his second at Stamford, Conn., in Presbyterian churches, with 
each of which he spent about two years. His third charge was at 
Rochester, N. Y., over a Congregational church, where he remained 
about nine years, when he was called to the Second Reformed church of 
Albany, N. Y., of which he was still pastor when his life was quite suddenly 



Extracts from Letters. 65 

cut short by, so far as I have been able to learn, a surgical examination 
of his throat, which was troubling him slightly. The operation, a very 
simple one, and which ought to have been attended with no danger, 
appears to have been conducted so carelessly as to rupture the esopha- 
gus, and result in death, after two days of great suffering. 

Dr. Bartlett's mind was active and profound. Intense in his love 
of truth, he was very zealous in its search. His sermons were marked 
by great thoughtfulness and a vivid imagination, and presented many 
elements of true eloquence. He was very fearless and manly in the 
advocacy of what be believed to be right, and in loyalty to truth. Many 
most noble and sterling qualities endeared him greatly to his friends, 
to whom his sudden and unexpected death was a grievous sorrow, while 
his departure in the very ripeness of his powers and in the midst of his 
usefulness, was a great loss to the church and the world. 



HON. MILES BEACH. 

New Yobk, May 20th., 1884. 
My Dear Rice: 

The omission was an oversight. Was born October 13th 1833. I 

doubt my ability to attend the class meeting, because of holding court, 

until the last Friday of Juae. Neither Plumb, Cromlish, Peterson or 

Flagg have ever crossed my path, so cannot give you information 

about them. 

Yours Faithfully, 

MILES BEACH. 
Edwin W. Bice. 



DR. L. C. BREDIN, M. D. 

In a letter to Dr. Rice, dated Franklin, Pa., May 5, 
1884., Dr. Breclin closes with the language: 

" I have held my position in the quiet even tenor of an unevent- 
ful life, respected in my own county, occupying fust rank in the 
profession chosen for my life work. Have a boy a Psi Ups and have 
the kindest and pleasantest recollections of the friends of my youth." 



HON. GEORGE W. CHAPMAN, 
The following obituary notice is taken from the Balston 
Democrat, in a number of that paper issued in April, 1881, 
at the time of the decease of our classmate. 

THE LATE HON. GEOBGE W. CHAPMAN. 
It seems fitting in view of the suddea death of Hon. Geo. W. Chap- 
man, that one who has had such int'mate professional relations with 



66 Extracts from Letters. 

him as the writer, should offer a slight tribute to his memory. Though 
the great poet has written, 

" The evil that men do lives after them, 
The good is oft interred with their bones," 

yet we think that more frequently in the awful presence of death, the 
voice of scandal is hushed, and from the grave of our departed ones, 
spring up the flowers of charity and love. No one could come into in- 
timate contact with Mr. Chapman without discerning more to admire 
and respect in his mental and moral character, than to censure or con- 
demn. As a lawyer he had the best approval that a high-minded lawyer 
desires, the admiration and esteem of his professional brethren. His 
intellect was broad, keen and acute, fully competent to grasp the whole 
science and philosophy of law, justly and accurately comprehending 
its principles, and practically applying them with rare judgment and 
skill. He made no pretensions as an advocate, for though he united to 
his professional training an unusual literary and aesthetic culture, yet 
he was not fluent of speech and had more ideas than words. 

Socially he was a most charming companion and conversed with 
ease and elegance. As a friend he was generous and warm-hearted, and 
loyal to the last degree. Suddenly has he passed from the activities of 
life, and reverently we leave, 



" His body to the dust, his soul to Heaven's grace, 
And the rest in God's own time." 



E. Q. 



HON. ORLOW W. CHAPMAN. 

Binghamton, N. Y., June 23, 1884. 
My dear Rice; 

I am disgusted. Can't go. Have used all the "cuss words" I 
could think of, but that didn't help me a bit. I can not go and that is 
the end of it. 

Now, my dear Rice, you must remember me to every old classmate 
who enquires. I remember them all but can now give only a word as to 
a few. Abell knew the time every train left every station in the U. S. 
(never tried him on Europe). Bennett was a student, and he has not 
recovered. E. W. Rice was a philosopher, don't know what switched 
him into the Sunday school business. Murphy was a politician, Demo- 
cratic at that, and is past hope. Westfull took his politics late — just 
been to the N. Y. Legislature, and my classmates, save, oh save him! — 
if you can. York was a preacher, took to it naturally. Marvin was 
another Bartlett, had preaching indications, though I don't think it 
was generally known while he was in college. In fact our class rather 
tended to theology. I had to labor night and day to keep out of it my- 
self. Beach had a weakness for pretty Sunday-school girls — in fact I 
always thought that he and you, had some how swapped vocations. 



Extracts from Letters. 6 7 

Street was political, and Waterbury once describing a rising storm made 
"the clouds climb up on each others shoulders." "Autie" Yates' great 
peculiarity could be best seen when he went in swimming — i. e. a tend- 
ency to go to the bottom of things, and as I remember it, J was the only 
honest man in the class. I recall Gorton's specimen of wit in Prof. 
Nott's rhitoric class. Pendletons " Sciential Hill," and Furbeck's 
announcement that "a litt e island was a big thing," and many other 
things, wise and otherwise. 

As you know, our class was noted for its sobriety; scholarly attain- 
ments and brilliant promise. All were good and some were virtuous. 
In fact, I remember in a general way, that Prof. Nott allowed that the 
"class of '54 was one of the most remarkable he ever had graduated." 
I do not now remember to have ever heard him say that of any other 
class. Do you? 

But this is too much. I must stop. I can only say, shake warmly 
the hand of each dear old Prof, for me, and especially, don't forget 
Foster — God bless him! or Pierson or Lamoreux. How I would like to 
look once more upon dear "Capt. Jack," and sturdy and strong, old 
Dr. Hickey, and "old Prex." and Dr. Lewis, polished and cultured, and 
others. 

Wishing you all every good thing, and grumbling sorely at that 
fate which keeps me away, I am ever your classmate and friend, 

0. W. CHAPMAN. 



PROF. A. R. CORNWELL. 

Oedwat, Beown Co., D. T., April 7, 1884. 
Hon. J. I. Bennett. 

I am very glad to hear from you. Have known very little of old 
Union since 1856. 0. Allen is at Austin, Minn. 

I taught twenty-five years in Wisconsin, at the head of a New 
England Academy which became very successsful. Have been here to 
help found a college. 

I send you a paper on the college. * * * * 

Life has been brim full of hope, love and charity. Oh! the dear old 
Union. The pretty girls and old Profs. Where are they? 

Hope the Lord will let me go back in June. That old roll rings in 
my ears. Abell, Allen, Nott, E. Nott, King, Kehoo, Bennett, Morgan 
and all. The grand roll call will be bye and bye, and we shall be there. 

Will Dr. Nott be in the chair? Where is the venerable Hikok. 
Foster, Jackson, Lewis, Peisner and all ? Please keep me advised. I 
learn nothing of old Union, and cannot tell when to go, or what the 
programme will be. Hope to see you there. 

Yours in hallowed memories of the dear old days of yore, 

A. R, CORNWELL. 

Address me here, Ordway, D. T. 



68 Extracts from Letters. 

DR. JOS. M. CRAIG. 

Amite City, La., May 13, 1884. 
John I. Bennett, Esq., 

Dear classmate — Yours of 8th inst. to hand. * * * 
I adopted the medical profession — served during the war as sur- 
geon of the Fourth Louisiana regiment, since practiced for eighteen 
years at Fair View, Louisiana. Am now practicing my profession at 
this place. Have three fine boys to represent me in the next gene- 
ration. 

Spent last summer at the north, and am sorry that professional 
and family duties, will prevent my being present with you at "Old 
Union" — I would like to represent my state, but it will be impossible. 

Your friend and classmate, 

JOSEPH MARTIN GRAIG. 



REV. PHILIP FURBECK. 

Little Falls, N. J., April 23, 1884. 
Dear Friend and Classmate. 

Your circular, making inquiries of the Class of '54, was duly re- 
ceived. 

There has not been anything very remarkable in my life-work. I have 
endeavored to faithfully do the work assigned to me by Providence, and 
I have met with a reasonable amount of success. I have educated one 
son for the medical profession. I now have one son at Union studying 
with a view of entering the ministry. 

I hope there will be a full meeting of the Class of '54. I have 
missed only two commencements since I graduated, but I have looked 
in vain for classmates. I hope at the next commencement to meet a 
goodly number, and have a good time. 

Your friend and classmate, 

PHILIP FURBECK. 



DR. W. N. GRISWOLD. 

San Francisco, Cal., June 17, 1884. 
Judge A. A. Yates and Dr. P. R. Furbeck, Committee. 

Dear Classmates : — -I remember well one hot day in June, 1854, 
when our class in turn appeared on the crowded stage of the old Pres- 
byterian church, spoke our little pieces, and received our respective 
parchments. Thirty years ago! young, inexperienced, but brave and 
enthusiastic, we bade farewell to Alma Mater, and stepped into the arena 
of our active and earnest lives. 

With most of us, though middle-age is now passed, our most effi- 
cient work is yet before us. As we stand near the altar where our aspi- 
rations, dedicated to usefulness and glory, rose buoyant with freshness 



Extracts from Letters. 69 

and vigor, and cast our gaze backward over the lapse of many years, 
what do we behold ? 

Personally — separate histories of absorbing interest ; of trial and 
struggle ; of defeat and triumph ; of failure and success ; with an un- 
doubted resultant of individual progress of culture and development, 
and an outreaching to another life of infinite perfection and bliss. 

Nationally — multiform aud exciting events leading up to and termi- 
nating in the War of the Rebellion ; throes and agonized tossings of 
the greatest convulsion of modern times ; chains stricken from a race 
of slaves ; a devastated South renewing its prosperity ; seeming peace 
and plenty smiling on all tne land, and our nation ready for the march 
to a higher plane of liberty and prosperity. 

It is a stirring retrospect, wonderful achievement and glorious re- 
sult ! * * * 

It is with unfeigned regret, which language cannot express, that I 
am, at the last moment, forced to abandon my contemplated visit to 
Alma Mater, and the pleasure of looking again on your familiar faces. 

Even at this distance of time and space, as one name follows another, 
each visage and expression comes as fresh as youth to my memory, and 
many incidents, of no great import in themselves, connected with dif- 
ferent members, give distinctive force, color and warmth to these mem- 
ories. 

I especially remember my first room-mate, Judge Yates, and the 
incident of his first attempt to introduce me to the " smoke-out " enter- 
tainment ; the deficient results of that adventure ; his subsequent glo- 
rious triumph through the stratagem of inveigling me into another 
room over which he had secured control over the door ; how I retired 
from the ordeal, and paid the second physical penalty in the back yard, 
in emesial form, under midnight canopy. 

I remember the section trial of my next room-mate, and how judi- 
cial proceedings were brought to an abrupt termination by what proved 
to be a false announcement at the door, that Prof. Lewis was on the war- 
path, and had surprised and was about to capture the whole court. 

I remember R. O. Brown, another room-mate, a kindly, conscien- 
tious, homely man, whose thoughts hung together so loosely that, of all 
others, he was the most easily thrown from his mental poise ; how, after 
a decided "fizzle," he would return to his room, and piously, but heartily, 
damn himself for his inglorious " breakdown ;" how Frank Phelps, on 
such occasions, would administer what he called " the consolations of 
religion," tormenting to tears by his unceasing jokes, puns and dogge- 
rels. Poor fellows, both gone ! 

I remember my maiden speech in the House of Representatives in 
support of an internal improvement bill which I had introduced ; how 
J. H. Burtis, sitting opposite me, laughed himself to " split " at some- 
thing connected with my eloquent appeal. I never asked him wha 



70 Extracts from Letters. 

ailed him. I had written the speech, committed it to memory, and ris- 
ing suff used with blushes, reeled it off at a high rate of speed. My bill 
passed. Burtis voted for it, and I walked out of the chapel in a state 
of perturbation, prostration and perspiration, "fit" to awaken the 
sympathies of a quarter-horse just out of a hard race. 

I remember — yes, I remember — that already I have overtaxed your 
patience, and must bring this letter to a close, or be voted a " bore." 
My thoughts, sympathies and affections will go with this epistle, and 
linger about and upon you and the pleasant reunion it will be your priv- 
ilege personally to enjoy. 

After this day, never to be forgMen, we shall hear of each other 
again ; perhaps, on account of it, more frequently than ever before. 

I should be glad to receive an account of your sayings and doings. 
With affectionate remembrances of, and the kindest regards to, any of 
the noble and patient band of our instructors who may meet with you, 
I remain, fraternally and affectionately, 

Your classmate, 

W. N. GRISWOLD. 



San Fkancisoo, April 8, 1884. 
John I. Bennett, Esq. 

Dear Sir : — Your circular just received. What time in June is 

the meeting of Class of '54 ; and where ? Have attended none of the 

Class meetings. Would be glad to do so this year, if possible. 

My little record has been sent to Alma Mater. Contains nothing of 

importance either in public or private life. Have been in medical 

practice since 1859— for the last sixteen years in this city. My present 

address is No. 6 Eddy Street, San Francisco, Cal. I have kept track of 

no one of our Class, except P. G. Valentine, also in medical .practice 

(homeopathic) in St. Louis. Hope to hear from you again. 

Very truly, your classmate, 

W. N. GRISWOLD, M. D. 

I will tell you a little incident in connection with your letter. I 
suppose you know some of the facts of modern spiritualism, clairvoy- 
ance, clairaudience mind-reading, etc. 

Well, for several years past I have developed a clairaudient power — 
a power which enables me to know of matters not cognizable by my 
outer sense of hearing. How this connects me with distant places I 
can't fully explain, but it does, as I have frequently proved. For two 
or three weeks past I have heard the words " Bennett," " Chicago." 
What it meant I could not tell. A letter from " Bennett," of " Chicago " 
explains the matter. I had not heard or hardly thought of you for 
years, and did not know you were in Chicago. 

There is a boundless sea still unexplored. As we advance internally 
and upwardly in our investigations we find new and unexplained facts 
continually. Yours, W. N. G. 



Extracts from Letters. 71 

HON. E. H. HEACOCK. 

New Whatcom, W. T., April 23, 1884. 
Hon. John I. Bennett, Chicago, Ills. 

Dear classmate — Your favor of the 29th ult. is received to night. 
The moment I opened your letter and saw your name — before I 
had even glanced at the contents — I remembered you and said to my 
wife "the letter is from one of my old college chums." I am very 
glad to note you among the survivors. I have often wondered what 
became of that band of noble young men of thirty years ago. I kept 
track of many of them for years, until quite a number had passed to the 
other side, but gradually I lost sight of those who remained, until now 
I scarcely know the whereabouts of a single one. 

My own life has been spent wholly on the Pacific coast — as you 
will remember, I did not graduate, I left while I was only a Sophomore, 
and migrated with ox-teams across the plains to California in 1852. 
We were five months on the road. I located in Sacramento City, Cali- 
fornia on the 21st day of July, 1855; was clerk of the police court of 
Sacramento City from 1858 to 1856; practiced law in that city as the 
junior member of the firm of "Robinson, Beatty & Heacock," (Judge 
Tod Robinson and Judge H. O. Beatty) from the spring of 1858 until I 
was elected to the State Senate from Sacramento county on the Repub- 
lican ticket in 1860 — to which position I was again elected in 1864 and 
again in 1865, serving five sessions of the Legislature. In the meantime I 
held the office of City Attorney of Sacramento, form 1863 to 1866. In 
1868 I removed to Santa Cruz, California, where in 1871 I was elected 
County Judge, which position I held until the first of June 1875, when I 
resigned it and removed to Lompock, in Santa Barbara county, and on 
the following 30th day of July, was elected to the presidency of the 
LOmpok Temperance Colony, which position I held until the death of 
the Superior Judge of that county, on the 9th day of January 1880 — 
when I resigned it to accept the appointment to the Superior Judge- 
ship for the unexpired term of one year. On the 6th of last June I 
arrived here, intending to practice law; but soon had an opportunity 
to take employment as general agent of the "Belligham Bay and Brit- 
ish Columbia Railroad Company," which I accepted and still hold. 

I was married at Prairie City in Sacramento county, California on 
the 2nd day of October, 1853. Have had seven children, of whom five 
are still living. My wife and three children are here with me. 

I trust that my life has not been wholly without merit. 

I should be rejoiced to attend the reunion in June next, and it is 
possible that I may be able to do so. 

I sincerely trust that these thirty years have showered honors upon 
you and prospered you, and that many years of usefulness and honor 
may still be allotted to you. 

If I am not able to be present, I hope I shall not be wholly for- 



72 Extracts from Letters. 

gotten at the reunion by my old classmates. Hoping to hear from you 
and with high regard, I remain, 

Sincerely yours, 

E. H. HEACOCK. 



" Tlie following personal letter was written to one of the 
committee, but it gives such a graphic picture of old 
scenes as they appeared to one of our esteemed members 
now on the Pacific coast, that the writer will we trust 
pardon the liberty taken, in printing extracts from it, of 
interest to all the class who knew him." 

New Whatcom, W. T., May 31, 1884. 
Rev. Edwin W. Rice, Philadelphia, Pa. 
My Dear Old Chum Rica— 

But my old friend, what changes since then! The majority have 
gone over the river, and those who remain would scarcely know each 
other if they should meet. You remember, I was only in "Old Union" 
a few months. At first, chum Cameron and yourself were my room 
mates; then came the winter, and both Cameron and yourself went out 
to teach school, while I remained in that big room in the old West 
College all alone during the winter months — and got the "blues" (I had 
them often in those days and have had them often since), and resolved 
to go to California (one of the gravest errors of my life) — but I said I 
was going to Oregon — for you remember in those days in old Kings- 
boro it was considered "contra bonos mores" to emigrate to California 
in search of "the root of all evil," while it was all right in popular 
estimation to strike out for Oregon. I may with truth add, that after 
thirty years experience in California, searching for the root — I have 
not found enough of it which, if strapped to a camel, would impede 
its passage through the scriptural needle's eye. 

As I was only in college a few months I do not remember many of 
our classmates, but of some I have a very distinct recollection. Our 
mutual friend Bennett, I remember well, erect and square-rigged in 
form — always attentive to his studies and in his place in our class. I 
am much rejoiced that he has been so successful in life, and trust that 
the future has even higher laurels in store for him. I also remember 
well Orlow W. Chapman with his genial nature and sentimental moods. 
He used sometimes to sit in my lap, while we repeated poetry to each 
other, also Rice of South Carolina [Delaware] I believe, who was so 
gentlemanly in his deportment and trim and neat in his personal 
appearance; and the rough-visaged, but sincere, kind-hearted, strug- 
gling, hard working Brown: and Packard — poor fellow — who died while 



Extracts from Letters. 73 

I was there; and Oppie, of whom I remember Prof. Lewis one day en- 
quired with some surprise: "What, Oppie, a theologian?" and Strong, 
who was then every inch a soldier in appearance, and Marvin, who I 
thought was so fine looking, and who, if my memory serves me right, 
used to go out and preach occasionally while in college and Prof. Lam- 
oroux, our Latin tutor, whose every movement was the perfection of 
ease, grace, and dignity; and old Tayler Lewis, who was so blunt in 
his ways, but warm of heart — who one day insisted that one member of 
our class should freely translate the words "Zevq tto'lec vdup" to the 
amusement of the entire class; and last but not least, Dr. Nott him- 
self, the Agamemnon of men, in whose face more of benignity found 
expression than I have ever seen in any other countenance — I almost 
reverenced him as Divine. 

But I will not pursue these remembrances any further. The major- 
ity of the survivors will soon have an opportunity at the "reunion" (I 
wish I might be there), to recall by words of mouth, speaking face to 
face, with eloquent tongues, the scenes of those college days. The 
occasion will be a most interesting and instructive one. Thirty years 
ago, you each went forth with your sickles, commissioned by your Alma 
Mater to glean from the fields of life their choicest products, and now 
you voluntarily return to her, bearing your sheaves with you, each with 
an inward consciousness that he has not toiled in vain. 

As for yourself personally, my old chum, I am delighted to learn of 
your success. Your life has been a busy and successful one. By per- 
sistent toil you have achieved position and honor, and your works will 
live after you. You have searched the scriptures, and in them found 
eternal life, and have proclaimed their truths with tongue and pen. 

* * * At some future time I will write you more fully of 
the events of my life since I left Old Union, and I shall always be most 
happy to hear from you and to know of your continued success. 

I wrote to classmate Bennett a brief narrative of my life, which he 
writes me he forwarded to you. Please remember me to each of our 
old classmates at the reunion. 

Expressing an earnest desire that the reunion may prove a most 
profitable and interesting occasion to each and all, and with kindest re- 
gards to yourself and family, I remain, 

Your old friend, 
EDWIN HUMPHREY HEACOCK. 



REV. JOHN L. KEHOO. 
The following extract is from a letter written by Sarah 
F. Kehoo, of Amsterdam, 1ST. Y., the widow of the deceased, 
to Dr. Eice, under date of April 17, 1884. 

" As a member of New Brunswick Presbytery, and after that was 



74 Extracts from Letters. 

divided and he went with Monmouth Presbytery, he was always active. 
Rev. Frank Chandler, of Freehold, N . J., told me that he could have 
written much more concerning Mr. Kehoo than 1 was in the published 
sermon, he having been a class-mate in the Seminary, and ordained 
the same week and always living eight miles from us, working in the 
same Presbytery. I know Mr. Kehoo was sent more than once down in 
Ocean Co., N. J., on missionary tours, to visit weak churches, and ex- 
plore the field. After Mr. McClaren left the old Tennent church, there 
was a great deal of trouble between two factions in the church concern- 
ing the selection of a new pastor. Both parties came to him with a 
list of their grievances to present to a special meeting of Presbytery to 
settle the d'fficulty. Dr. Worrell's congregation of Perrinville, N. J. 
were also in trouble and used to come to him for advice, in fact, as I 
look over the past years of his ministry in New Jersey, I can remember 
so many instances in which he was called on to act as peace-maker, that I 
think that the members of Monmouth Presbytery must have considered 
him a man of good judgment. He also held the office of school 
superintendent in our town for several years, and discharged his duties 
faithfully. He was very fearless in temperance work. I remember 
once he preached on the subject, and was so severe on church members 
who signed petitions for rum licenses, that our men, who were accus- 
tomed to sign, declared they would never sign another. In the seven- 
teen years of his pastorate in New Jersey, I think he was commissioner 
to the General Assembly four times. In college, you know, he was a 
member of the Adelphic Society with you; I have his certificate. When 
he graduated at Union, the " Eaglish Salutatory" was given him; he 
was a life member of the A. S. S. W., and also of A. B. Society. He 
also loved " old Union," persuaded a young man of our New Jersey 
congregation, and one in Worcester to go there." 



DR. NORMAN KLEIN. 

San Jose, May 17th, 1884. 
John I. Bennett, Esq. 

Dear Friend and Classmate: 
About a week ago I received a communication from you, for- 
warded from Michigan by my sister, asking for some personal infor- 
mation. Yesterday I received quite a long kind letter from you and 
also one from Rev. E. W. Rice. 

I will answer Dr. Rice's letter, but as I received your communication 
first, will make my statement to you. * * It would be a great pleasure 
to meet the old Class and listen to each member relate the incidents and 
adventures he has passed through during the last thirty years. But 
business and the duties of life will prevent me from meeting with you 
this time. In 1894 there will probably be another meeting of a few 
old men, md if living I will try and be one of that number. 



Extracts from Letters. 75 

With many thanks for your kindness and trouble, allow me to wish 
you a pleasant reunion, and, amidst your happiness, may you not 
entirely forget the absent ones. 

" Mourn not for the dead for they are at rest; but weep for him 
that journey eth into a far country, for he shall return to his own home 
no more." 

With best wishes to all my classmates, I remain, 

Truly yours, 

NORMAN KLEIN. 
San Jose, Santa Clara County, Cal. 



HARVEY S. LOSEE. 
The following is an extract from a letter written by his 
friend Bennett to Dr. Rice: 

" At the early age of fourteen years he went to North Carolina 
and taught school, earning the money with which he entered college. 
He entered the first term Sophomore in Sept. 1851, and graduated in 
1854, earning the Phi Beta Kapta election, although he was out of col- 
lege nearly or quite a whole year, earning the means with which to 
complete his course. He kept up his studies, however, and passed his 
examination on reiurn. After graduation he went to Alexandria, La. r 
where he had taught during his course; and continued his teaching 
until he had completed his law studies, and was admitted to the 
Louisiana Bar. At this period Gen. W. T. Sherman taught a military 
school within a few miles of him and the two were often together and 
on intimate terms. He rmist have been admitted to practice in 1857. 
The Supreme Court reports of that State bear evidence of his success 
and ability while at the bar. Losee was distinguished always for his- 
independence, candor, energy, and bravery; and, fidelity to friends in 
every emergency. He was no fair weather friend. It was only when 
adversity came that the devotion of his friendship was fully felt- 
Loyal to this instinct of his nature, he returned to Alexandria where he 
had earned the means of completing his education. When the Rebel- 
lion came he found himself, with everything he had on earth, chiefly 
landed interests, in the extreme south. 

He had married a Miss Bartlett, of Duchess county, N. Y., aud his 
family were about him. Neutral ground was impossible. One of two- 
courses lay open to him — attempt to escape with his family, with the 
chances of failure and consequences probably fatal to himself — or es- 
pouse the cause of the South. Cowardice was unknown to him. He 
enlisted as a private in a Louisiana regiment, refusing office. At the 
battle of Pittsburg Landing Gen. Beauregard found him leading his 
company, every southern officer of the command either being killed, or 
having left the field. That night he was called to Gen. Beauregard's 



76 Extracts from Letters. 



tent and given a sword. He was however, sent home to Alexandria, on 
account of his business capacity and served in the Quarter Master's 
department, at that place, till the close of the war, except when Gen. 
Banks made his expedition up the Red river, when Losee served on the 
staff of Gen. Taylor. After that expedition he remained at Alexandria. 
Hiram Schofield of the class of 1853, and a friend of Losee's at Union 
college was commandant of the post of Alexandra after it had fallen 
into our hands The two college friends soon met and Losee served as 
the faithful arbiter in all questions of difficulty which subsebuently 
arose at head quarters, at the request of his friend Schofield. Near the 
close of the war he was thrown from his carriage and received internal 
injuries which resulted in rheumatism of the heart of which he died at 
Alexandria La., Oct. 15, 1872. His widow and children now live in 
Duchess county, N. Y. Had favoring circumstances surrounded, in- 
stead of these cruel surroundings, Harvey S. Losee would have certainly 
become one of the most distinguished men of this country, whatever 
profession or vocation he might have chosen. He was naturally the sol- 
dier, magnanimous as he was brave; the advocate, with command of well 
chosen Saxon and an earnestness and enthusiasm forcing conviction; 
he possessed industry, application and intelligence equal to the mas- 
tery of any subject, and an open hearted manliness wanting in no 
element of true nobility. 

GEN. HIRAM SCHOFIELD, 
John I. Eennett, 

Kind Friend: 
I am in receipt of yours of a recent date asking for the informa- 
tion of his class, what I know of Harvey Losee. 

He and I as you perhaps know, were both born and raised in the 
same county in New York State — Saratoga. Before meeting him at 
" Old Union" I had some knowledge of his family, through an acquain- 
tance with him. At college I learned to love and respect him, and we 
were as intimate as members of different classes often become. 

When we parted there in 1853, it was like most other students, to 
. lose our knowledge of each other. In some way I learned he had 
gone south, but where, I did not know. You may judge therefore some- 
what of my surprise, when a short time previous to being mustered out 
of the service, when the cruel war was over and I was in command at 
Alexandria, Louisiana, to learn that there was there an enterprising 
attorney who answered the name and description of our old time 
friend, Losee. 

Wishing to know if it was indeed he, and if it was, how he would 
take it, I dispatched an orderly with an order for him to report at 
once at head-quarters. He reported, recognition followed and a pleas- 
ant time. I called frequently at his home, where I found an interesting 
family of wife and children. Then I first saw the album containing 



Extracts from Letters. 77 

the lithograph of his class mates, which was carefully preserved and 
higiily prized. He recounted his experience in camp and field, while 
an officer in one of the Louisiana regiments. 

Noticing that one of his hands was shrunken and some of the fin- 
gers gone, I asked him how it occurred. He told me that at the battle 
of Shiloh while with his regiment and serving the Confederacy, he had 
been wounded there with a musket ball. Upon comparing notes we 
found that during the battle we were near and confronting each other, 
and both wounded about the same time. 

The war left him, as it did most of the southern people, poor in 
purse, but ne was full of spirit and enterprise. He was resuming the 
practice oi his profession — that of law — and hoped to see the pay- 
master oftener and receive better funds than he had in the Confeder- 
acy. 

Soon after this we again parted, and since then I have only learned 
that he was dead, and that his body rests beneath the pines of his 
adopted state. 

Please remember me to your friends and my friends in the Class of 
1854. Who of them will be there at the Commencement, Anno Domini 
2014? 

Yours, ever, 

H. SCHOFIELD, 

Of the Class of 1853. 



HENRY P. LYMAN, Dec'd. 

Bublington, W. Va., May 17, 1884. 
E. W. Rice, Esq. 

Dear Classmate: — At the suggestion of J. I. Bennett I send you 
the following memoranda concerning Henry F. Lyman, deceased, of 
our class, which may possibly be of use in making up the class history. 

* * * In disposition he was in a remarkable degree kind and 
affectionate. When but a youth he became a member of the Cortland- 
ville Presbyterian church, and his life ever afterwards was characterized 
by earnest, active piety. As a student he was systematic and thorough. 
His mind worked slowly, but what he had mastered he always retained. 
While not ambitious of place, he always stood well in his classes. Stu- 
dious in his habits, he did not seek many companions, and he was not 
in that sense "popular." But the few who knew him loved him, and he 
had the confidence and respect of all. 

I do not know when or where he died, but probably at his home in 
Cortlandville. 

Yours, very truly, 

M. W. WOODWORTH. 



78 Extracts from Letters. 

REV. J. Y. MITCHELL, D. D. 

Lancaster, April 16, 1884. 

Dear Brother. 

I have answered your questions; would like and hope to be with 
you at the coming reunion. 

Yours fraternally, 

JAS. Y. MITCHELL. 



J. V. H. NOTT, ESQ. 

Kellodoob, April 26, 1884. 
E. W. Rice, Esq., Philadelphia. 

Dear Sir: — I was glad to find you in the land of the living still, 
as your " class reunion " intimates, and hope you are well and a heap 
prosperous. I suppose your modesty has kept your name out of the 
papers, or I would have heard of you sooner. 

I introduced and exhibited the first electric light ever used in this 
country. Have introduced a new, economical and valuable system 
of drainage and fertilizing land, which does away with almost all the 
expensive hand work and toil, making better drains, and enriching the 
land without manure. 

Very sincerely, 

J. V. HENRY NOTT. 



HON. ISAAC PENDLETON. 

Sioux City, Iowa, June 7, 1884. 
My dear Bennett. 

Yours received, and glad to hear from you as always. * * * 
I had more than half made up my mind to go to the Republican 
convention when I last wrote you, but finally abandoned the purpose. 

I am now bending every energy to be with you and the rest of our 
class at the commencement, but at present cannot say certain. So soon 
as I can definitely determine I will write you. With kindest heartfelt 
wishes for you and for all who gather as the Class of '54, under the 
sheltering walls of old Union, I remain, as always, 

Your friend, 

ISAAC PENDLETON. 

P. S. — Baker was here the other day on his way to Nebraska. He 
expressed his regrets at the inability to be with the class at commence- 
ment. 

I received the other day a letter from Alexander Wilson, Mineral 
Point, Wis. He will be at commencement. P. 



Extracts from Letters. 79 

The following is an extract from a letter of Hon. A. W. 
Argo to Judge Pendleton: 

Allow me to congratulate you over your success in the defense of 
. Judge Lewis has just left my office, and while here our conver- 



sation naturally drifted toward court matters, and I inquired about the 
case. The Judge paid you a very high and flattering compli- 
ment. He says you made a most excellent defense, in which I fully 
concur, judging from the result. From the reported facts of the case, 
I regard the verdict as a most remarkable victory. It always does me 
good to hear of your success. It recalls so many pleasant memories. 
There is no man on earth that I would rather see do well than you. I 
rejoice in your success, and that the same good fortune and success at- 
tend your future practice, is may earnest prayer. 

I am very truly yours, 

G. W. ARGO/' 



PEOF. JOSEPH A. PRINDLE. 

Denmakk, June 13, 1885. 
Rev. E. W. Rice. Philadelphia, Pa. 

Bro. Rice — Your communication of May 17, was duly answered, 
and why it failed to reach you I know not, but I will try and answer you 

Principal academy at Oswego from 1857 to 1869; 69-70, head mas- 
ter and professor natural sciences and ancient languages in State 
Normal and Training School, at Oswego; Objective or Pestalogian 
school 1870-71; principal of academy at Lowville, Lewis county, N. Y. 
Since then have been here, having a private school in which to teach 
my own children and others who wished to learn methods of teaching, 
science, languages etc., and at the same time have had the care of 
the Denmark and Lowville Baptist church. 

While at Oswego, sent several young men to Union, most of whom 
are doing well. Was at Union in spring, I think, of 1868, as chairman 
of examining committee. Have been there once since. Would like to 
be there in June at reunion. If not, best wishes to all. 

Yours, etc.. 

REV. J. A. PRINDLE. 



HON. JOHN V. RICE. 

Chester. Pa.. April 24, 1884. 
Rev. Edwin W. Rice; 

My dear classmate — Y T our thirteen inquiries duly received, which 
I will now answer to the best of my knowledge and belief. My name 
is John V. Rice: present address Chester, Delaware county, Penn. I 



80 Extracts from Letters. 

■ 

was born in the city of Wilmington, county of New Castle, and the 
state of Delaware. My parents were; James Rice, deceased, and Mary 
A. Rice, nee Virtue. I was prepared for college at Princeton, under a 
private tutor viz., Rev George W, Tompson, and at Wilmington, under 
the instruction of Rev. Sani'l M. Gayley and T. R. Wyncoop D. D. The 
latter a graduate of Union college. I entered the Sophomore class of 
old Union in Sept., 1851; commenced the study of medicine immed- 
ialely upon leaving college, but abandoned the further pursuit of that 
profession, just when prepared to enter the University of Pennsylvania. 
Went west and invested in a small way in real estate in Iowa and Ne- 
braska; was called home after some eighteen months absence, to take 
charge of my father's business, viz., the Phoenix Iron Foundry, Wil- 
mington, Del. I conducted quite a large business from Jan. 1857, till 
Jan. 1871, when the depression of the iron trade compelled me to re- 
sume the study of law which I had commenced for mental diversion in 
1862. Was admitted to the Delaware bar, May 1875. Came to Chester 
in December 1875, where I have followed my profession, practicing in 
the courts of both states, Pennsylvania and Delaware, to the present 
time. I was married on April 2, 1861, to Miss Sarah E. Lowe; have 
had six children, five of whom are living. My oldest son, Wm. L. 
Rice, educated at a private school in which my own and only brother, 
Col. James H. Rice, was the classical and literary teacher, is practic- 
ing law in Cleveland, Ohio, having read law with Judge Fox, of that 
state. My youngest and only other son, John V. Rice Jr., is preparing 
for college at the military institute at Bordentown, N. J., under the Rev. 
W. C. Bowen. My three daughters are being educated at the Borden- 
town female college. My literary work has been confined to the issuing 
of a few "paper books" peculiar to our profession. With kindest re- 
gards to you and yours, I am, 

Very truly yours. 

JOHN V. RICE. 
Date of birth June 29, 1833. 



HON. ANTHONY W. STREET. 

Council Bluffs, Iowa, June 2, 1884. 
Rev. E. W. Rice, Philadelphia, Pa. 

My dear Rice — Your second appeal is received. I have been 
very busy and it has seemed well nigh impossible to hunt up dates and 
write out this "uneventful history," but I draw my bow at a venture. 

My "works," in the words of Charles Lamb, "are not in the obscure 
collection of some wandering book-seller, they rest piled on shelves, 
more Mss. in folio than ever Aquinas left, and full as useful." 

Yours sincerely, 

A. W. STREET. 



Extracts from Letters. 81 

HON. BENJ. H. WILLIAMS. 

Buffalo, April 16, 1884. 
Hon. John I. Bennett. 

Dear clasemate — Yours of the 29th ult. is at hand. It affords 
me pleasure to comply with your request for facts respecting my life. 
About a year ago, one of our newspapers published biographical 
notices of some of our citizens and among them was included one of 
myself, which I beg leave to enclose. This notice will doubtless fur- 
nish you with all the facts you desire and more too, but I feel it 
to be my duty to advise you that in many respects it is colored in 
favor of the subject, and that you cannot rely implicity on its state- 
ments except as to historical facts. 

Thanking you kindly for the trouble you are taking in this matter, 
I remain, Very truly yours, 

BENJ. H. WILLIAMS. 

The following extract is taken from a Buffalo Daner. 



o 



pap* 



''He attended school when any was kept in the neighborhood, and at 
the age of fourteen years he entered the academy at Careyville, in Gen- 
esee county as a student, where he remained for about two years. Up- 
on leaving this institution he was placed in the Wesleyan seminary at 
Avon, from where he was advanced to the college branch of the same 
institution, and after due preparation entered Union college at Schenec- 
tady, from which he graduated with high honors in 1854. 

Up to the time of leaving college his future had been undetermined. 
By the assistance of his parents he had secured a liberal education and 
it was their earnest desire as well as his own wish that it should be 
utilized in some useful and honorable calling. While the plans for the 
future were being discussed by the famiiy, an acquaintance in Buffalo 
prevailed upon the young graduate to visit this city with the assurance 
of securing a favorable opportunity of becoming a law student. The 
invitation was accepted, and in 1855 Mr. Williams was admitted as a 
student at law in the office of the then well known firm of Havens & 
Smith, consisting of the late Hon. Solomon G. Havens and Hon. James 
M. Smith, one of the present justices of the Supreme Court. 

Judge Smith retired from the firm in 1856, and Mr. Williams 
remained with Mr. Havens as student and clerk until 1860. Much of 
the time Mr. Havens being absent as a member of Congress or else- 
where, Mr. Williams was left in charge of the office and had the man- 
agement of its important business. It was a responsible trust for one 
so young and inexperienced, but the duties were faithfully and intell- 
igently discharged. In 1857 Mr. Williams was admitted to the bar as 
an attorney with license to practice in all of the courts of the state. 

In 1860 Mr. George Wadsworth having been elected to the office of 
city attorney appointed Mr. Williams as his assistant at the then salary 



82 Extracts from Letters. 

of $500 per annum. The appointee doubtless regards this as the most 
important event of his life. The guaranty of such an ample sum for a 
year, in addition to the official rank secured, thrilled the young lawyer 
and gave him new and promising visions of the future in his chosen 
profession. He also formed a copartnership with Mr. Wadsworth for 
the transaction of business other than official, under the firm name of 
Wadsworth & Williams. 

At the close of two years service in the city attorney's office Mr. 
Williams formed a law partnership with the late T. C. Welch, under the 
name of Welch & Williams, which continued until the death of Mr. 
Welch in 1864. Thereafter he had no partner until 1870, when the 
present firm of Williams & Potter was established with George S. 
Potter as his associate. In the autumn of 1869, Mr. Williams was nom- 
inated and elected by the Republicans to the office of city attorney, and 
he discharged the duties thereof during the years 1870 and 1871. Dur- 
ing the latter year and before the expiration of his term he was nom- 
inated and elected to the office of District Attorney of Erie county, 
which position he held for three years, and discharged its duties with a 
zeal and fidelity that have never been excelled in that responsible 
office. 

On the 31st of January 1872, three days after taking the oath of 
office as Districc Attorney, Mr. Williams assumed matrimoniel obliga- 
tions, leading to the sacred alter Miss Charlotte Stoneman, daughter 
of Mr. George Stoneman of Chantuaqua county, and sister of General 
Stoneman, the present Democratic candidate for Governor of 
Calafornia. A son and three daughters are the fruit of this union. 

After retiring from the office of District Attorney another respite 
was allowed Mr. Williams from public service until the autumn of 1879, 
when he was again summoned by his fellow citizens and elected to the 
office of state senator for the di?trict of Erie county. It is noteworthy 
that in all instances where Mr. Williams has been chosen to an office, 
it has been without any special effort in his own behalf. He has been 
sought for, rather than found pushing himself. His popularity with 
the people has been exceptional, and his name has been sought and 
desired to give success to the party's ticket as well as to secure the 
services of a faithful and competent public servant. 

This was especially true when he was nominated for senator. 
There was no packing of caucuses, fixing of delegates or begging of 
votes. He was the unanimous choice of the convention and was nom- 
inated by acclamation. His popularity is attested by the fact that he 
has never been defeated when before the people, and generally runs 
ahead of his party ticket. 

In the senate Mr. Williams was made chairman of the Committee 
on public health, and placed on the judiciary, canal, and privilege and 
election Committees. He was also appointed chairman of a special 



Extracts from Letters. 83 

committee "to inquire, ascertain and determine what reduction, if any, 
can be made in the cost to the state of the care and management of 
the canals, and the collec' ion of the revenue derived therefrom, and to 
report to the next legislature whether the services of any officer or em- 
ployee whose salary or compensation is paid by the state out of the 
revenues derived from the state canals, can be dispensed with; also 
what measures, if any, are practicable and ought to be adopted, in 
order to increase the commerce of our canals and diminish the cost of 
transportation thereon." ***** 

His reading of the law has been thorough, his knowledge of its 
fundamental principles is profound, and he possesses in an eminent 
degree what is popularly known as a legal mind, which enables him to 
analyze complicated questions and furnish a solution for difficult prob- 
lems with unusual facility. 

His reticent and unobtrusive manner have won him valuable friends 
and important business, which other less inviting characteristics would 
have repelled. He is a fluent speaker, with no pretension to oratory, 
and is specially gifted in the art of choosing appropriate language to 
communicate his ideas. He is absolutely free from egotism or personal 
vanity, and never courts notoriety or public applause. He finds more 
satisfaction in doing well than in having his efforts or achievements 
proclaimed from the housetops. His consent to the publication of this 
sketch was reluctantly, and only given to enable the list of Erie County 
Senators to be made complete in the Times' series. Measured by his 
success, which after all is as infallible perhaps as any other test, Mr. 
Williams is entitled to a place in the front rank of the bar of Erie 
County, and therefore a corresponding position among the profession 
of the State. 

He is of medium size, with erect figure, a stately gait, with head 
slightly inclined as if in meditation, high and projecting forehead, 
large, lustrous black eyes, dark hair, burnside whiskers of liberal 
growth, and a countenance that wins rather than repels. He is cordial 
in his greetings, warm in his friendships, and abiding in his attachments. 
Notwithstanding he deferred marriage until he had reached the score of 
middle life, his domestic ties and home relations are of the most charm- 
ing and endearing character. A better preserved man of his years is 
not often met with. He will complete his fifty -second year the present 
week, and yet his appearance is that of a man of forty. 

In politics Mr. Williams has, from its organization, been a stead- 
fast and zealous supporter of the Republican party; and while he is 
anything but a politician, in the common acceptation of that term, yet 
his devotion to the cause and interests of that organization have ever 
been deep and abiding, and his private and public acts have never wanted 
the commendation of his political associates." 



84 Extracts from Letters. 

PROF. S. P. YORK. 

Vineland, N. J. April 23, 1884. 

Friend Rice — Your circular in behalf of the class of '54. Union 
college came to hand a few days since and found me upon my back in 
bed where I have been for the last three months, and in which com- 
fortable position I am writing this note. * * * 

At one time it was thought amputation would be necessary and 
in point of flexibility I do not expect to have the complete use of that 
leg, though the doctor says I will be able to walk without inconvenience. 
In regard to "history," I went immediately after graduation, to 
Winchester, Virginia, and established a young ladies' boarding school, 
known as "Valley Female Institute." My school continued to prosper 
until the rebellion came on, when my property was confiscated (some 
$16,000), myself arrested and sent with others toward Richmond. We 
stopped for days and sometimes weeks in various towns, and having at 
that time no business in Richmond, after some four weeks of confine- 
ment, some half a dozen of us took leave one night by means of our 
jack-knives and took to the mountains, reaching Winchester, which 
was by this time in posession of the Union troops, after a tramp of 
some seventy miles. -About 1863, went to Binghampton, N. Y., remain- 
ing some two years. In 1866 was principal of Amenia seminary, N. Y. 
In 1866 came to Vineland N. J., where I have since remained. Have 
been teaching most of the time, and am now principal of the Vineland 
high-school and also superintendent of schools, having fifteen teachers 
and some nine hundred pupils under my charge. That is I have been 
occupying this position and expect to resume it the coming scholastic 
year. Yours truly, 

S. P. YORK. 



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